LaunchGram

LaunchGram operated as an online platform designed to aggregate news and generate hype for products prior to their official release. The company was founded in 2012 by Andy Sparks, Zach Boerger, and Carrie Phillips. LaunchGram provided consumers with a centralized source of information for upcoming items across various sectors, including movies, electronics, video games, and cars.

The venture participated in the 500 Startups (now 500 Global) Batch 5 accelerator program, which commenced in late 2012 and held its demo day in February 2013. The company also took part in the 10-xcelerator program in January 2012. Throughout its operational period, LaunchGram secured approximately $70,000 in funding from investors including 500 Global and 10Xelerator. The core of LaunchGram's business model revolved around affiliate revenue. It capitalized on the anticipation surrounding product launches, such as major video game titles, by running targeted Facebook ad campaigns. These ads directed users to a page with curated content and pre-order links, earning the company a commission, reportedly around $7 per pre-order, on sales generated through these links.

Co-founder Andy Sparks, who later co-founded the data analytics firm Mattermark, identified this as a brief but profitable opportunity before the cost of Facebook ads increased. The company's journey culminated in its acquisition by Mattermark on February 20, 2013.

Keywords: LaunchGram, Andy Sparks, product launch aggregation, pre-release news, affiliate marketing, video game hype, movie release tracker, gadget updates, 500 Global, 500 Startups Batch 5, Mattermark acquisition, Zach Boerger, Carrie Phillips, 10-xcelerator, consumer product updates, pre-order marketing, online publishing, tech news aggregator