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VAS TOP 10: #7 Valuefirst : Enchashing on Digital

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VoicenData Bureau
New Update

Digitization is the order of the day, and the entire world is passionate about it. Most of the company's business processes, even personal interactions, shopping patterns, entertainment are all shifting to the digital platform. It is thinking and acting digital.

Companies intend to tap this deep ocean and in this typical internet and mobile environment, several businesses have mushroomed and are striving to leverage the opportunities here. One such organization is the ValueFirst Digital Media Company, it is currently about `120 crore and aims to reach a turnover of around `250 crore in FY13. It was formerly known as ValueFirst Messaging.

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In August 2012, as part of its re-branding strategy and to emphasize its commitment to digital media, the company was rechristened as ValueFirst Digital Media Company. With this the company has got a fresh corporate image and identity. ValueFirst Digital Media enables businesses to reach out to the right target audience through mobile and internet platforms via SMS, voice, email, and internet solutions. It is the largest and fastest growing digital media company with over 50 mn registered users adding over 40,000 new users everyday.

ValueFirst was established 2003 via the internet and mobile platform. Now, it handles nearly 8 bn digital interactions across platforms. It owns and operates multiple internet communities with over 50 mn opted-in profiled and registered internet users. In 2011, ValueFirst had raised $15 mn from Headland Asia Ventures, NEA and in 2008 also it had raised $6 mn from NEA in 2008. The company has made considerable investment on IndyaRocks, online social network in May 2010. In April 2010, it acquired a SMS social network Tagg.in.

The company's products include speed, a desktop software for sending short message service (SMS) and managing contacts from the personal computer; Velocity and VelocityPlus.

Key Developments

ValueFirst Digital Media Company is eagerly awaiting a right opportunity to go in for an initial public offering in the next couple of years. As of now, it has received a total of over $21 mn in PE funding from NEA and Headland ventures.

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It has recently acquired Way2online, a Hyderabad-based consumer focused internet technology company, which owns and operates Way2sms.com and 160by2.com, in an all-cash deal for an approximate value of `160 crore. With this acquisition, ValueFirst is eyeing `250 crore revenue in FY13 and anticipates an additional 37 mn registered profiled internet users. It also enables the company to operate in internet space which was earlier operating in mobile space. The company has plans to consolidate the infrastructure while it intends to run Way2sms and 160by2 as independent prosperities.

As of January 2012, Way2SMS and 160by2 were together adding a combined 25,000 registrations a day, and claimed 95% market share of the P2P online SMS business, with around 33 mn registered users. ValueFirst primarily focuses on the enterprise market, but also has an SMS advertising network SpotOn Media, SMS content publishing venture SmsMeOn, and content alerts Alertrix. The Way2SMS will help the company to cater to consumer needs. In June 2012, it has acquired Bengaluru based mobile marketing platform provider mGinger.

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