Twined

Twined operated as an online platform for product recommendations, founded in 2013 by Timothy Hunkele and Philip McKeating. The company was established to provide consumers with a centralized source for unbiased product reviews and expert recommendations, aiming to simplify shopping decisions. Headquartered in Brooklyn, New York, the firm targeted the social commerce and B2C information services market.

The platform hosted a wide array of product categories, including electronics, furniture, kitchen supplies, and baby products. Its core function was to curate experts based on their knowledge and integrity, allowing users to discover trustworthy recommendations. For revenue, the business model involved redirecting users to the respective retailers' websites for final purchases, likely earning a commission on these referrals.

Twined's operational history includes several funding rounds. The company raised $245K in a seed round on March 19, 2014, and participated in accelerator/incubator programs in November 2015. Despite securing early-stage financing and reaching a revenue-generating stage, the company ultimately ceased operations. PitchBook lists the company's status as "Out of Business" as of November 1, 2017.

Keywords: product recommendations, expert reviews, online shopping platform, consumer reviews, social commerce, product discovery, e-commerce referral, shopping decisions, affiliate marketing, consumer products, online retail, product curation, expert network, Timothy Hunkele, Philip McKeating, Brooklyn startup, formerly VC-backed, unbiased reviews, multi-category retail, product comparison