Swype, a Seattle, WA-based developer of a text input technology, has raised an additional $2.5m in Series C financing.
Investors include existing backers Samsung Ventures, Nokia Growth Partners, Benaroya Capital, DOCOMO Capital and Ignition Partners.
This financing adds to the existing $3.5m raised in March with Ignition Partners and brings the company’s total Series C to $6m. The company had also raised $5.6m in Series B round (read the news).
Swype intends to use the new capital to continue to expand internationally and to adapt the technology beyond phones and tablets to additional platforms such as game controllers, TV’s and in-car displays.
Founded by CTO Cliff Kushler, the co-inventor of the T9 text input software installed on mobile phones, and Randy Marsden, the developer of the onscreen keyboard included in Windows, Swype provides a patented technology that enables users to input words faster and easier. The application is designed to work across a variety of devices such as phones, tablets, game consoles, kiosks, televisions, virtual screens and more.
Led by CEO Mike McSherry, the company recently released Swype 3.0, the latest version of its software with new features such as predictive tap and horizontal word choice, along with an optimized design for Android Honeycomb tablets, which features a movable and resizable keyboard.
The company, which has grown to more than 80 employees, recently opened three new offices in North Carolina, Massachusetts, and Korea.
FinSMEs
13/07/2011