Kontest raises €600,000 from 3T Capital and Olivier Mathiot
Initially incubated at the Télécom SudParis and Télécom Ecole de Management business incubator, Kontest announces the completion of its first fund-raising round, for an amount of €600,000 from 3T Capital, Olivier Mathiot, co-founder of Price Minister, Gérald Sauvageon, Head of Publishing at Google France and from influential business angels in the digital world.
As the European leader in automatic creation of promotional games, Kontest is now setting out to conquer marketing performance by harnessing the power of all the data collected on line.
Kontest, the leader in automated promotional games
Founded in 2010 by a couple of entrepreneurs, Sylvain Weber (CEO) and Jacinthe Busson (COO), Kontest soon became the leader on its market by developing a promotional game creation platform that is the only one of its kind. The solution provides brands with an opportunity to develop their communities by automating the creation of a wide range of entertaining game experiences that can draw the attention of web users and develop customer loyalty. Since its beginnings, the solution has been focused on performance and provides powerful data-collection tools that increase companies’ marketing intelligence. In 3 years of activity, over 5 million fans have thus been converted into qualified contacts, thanks to the relevance and ongoing optimization of the systems the company provides. Clients of this young company include such well-known communication agencies as Publicis, Havas and Lagardère, along with world-renowned brands, such as Michelin, TomTom and Microsoft.
An ambition: boost game performance thanks to data
Initially incubated at the Télécom SudParis and Télécom Ecole de Management business incubator, the startup now has some fifteen employees and boasts double-digit annual growth driven by ambitious and innovative projects. After facilitating the creation, publication and R.O.I. measurement of digital marketing campaigns, Kontest intends to take things even further today: “Our ambition is to exceed the performances of bespoke games by exploiting the potential of automation. We want to be capable of predicting player behavior, targeting the right audiences and maximizing the performances of the games in real time. We like pushing back the boundaries of our ecosystem and giving our customers the edge. The leitmotif for Kontest is that the world just doesn’t wait.” Sylvain WEBER, Co-founder and CEO, Kontest.
“Finalizing this first round of financing marks a new stage in the development of Kontest. We are going to be recruiting new R&D talents with a view to anticipating market needs. We will also be speeding up our commercial development by rolling out our efforts internationally. It is by remaining authentic, pioneering and insatiable that we intend to handle this next stage in our development. This is only the beginning!” Jacinthe BUSSON, Co-founder and COO, Kontest
“Data collection has existed for as long as internet has existed, but what we need is to qualify potential e-purchasers rather than mere promotion hunters who may like taking part in games, but are then highly volatile. Kontest is the only one of its kind in that the solution is positioned right at the crossroads between data collection and expertise. In my opinion, this is the best way of collecting data through games.” Olivier MATHIOT, Co-founder, Marketing and Communication Director, PriceMinister
“We believe that when games are endowed with the right technological tools, they can provide a high-performance means of gaining and keeping customers for brands, with genuine campaign efficiency measurements. The Kontest team was quick to realize this, demonstrating its relevance a little more each day thanks to the quality of its offering. We are delighted to throw our support behind the energy and ambition of the team.”
Gilles DEBUCHY, Managing Partner, 3T Capital
