When we relaunched our new-look site in December last year, we set out to find an investment partner that could help us roll out our strategy and grow Zoopy into the future.
Well we’re thrilled to announce that we’ve been having it!
After months of very productive discussions behind the scenes, Vodacom (South Africa’s Leading Cellular Network) has secured a 40% stake in Zoopy, giving them a significant entry into the multimedia market.
We couldn’t have asked for a more committed, encouraging or inspiring partner. Their investment will give us the resources we need to be able to bring our users more exciting, useful and innovative additions to Zoopy features and functionality.
Some users have been asking if this means we’re now a part of Vodacom. Yes we are, but they’re also a part of us. We’re partnering to bring you an even more enjoyable online and mobile experience at Zoopy but beyond that, Zoopy still runs Zoopy. We’re not moving offices and we’re not being absorbed.
The bottom line is that by combining our mobile and online strengths, the future is brighter than ever for our community. New technologies, new frontiers and endless possibilities to do so much more.
Thank you for being a part of Zoopy. We’re so proud of all the milestones you’ve helped us reach. Watch this space as we continue to expand and improve into a whole new level of Your Social Media Playground.
Here’s the official press release:
Vodacom, South Africa’s Leading Cellular Network, today announced that it has secured a stake in Zoopy.com, a South African-based social media community website.
Launched in March 2007, Zoopy.com allows its users to upload and share videos, photos, podcasts and blogs. In just over a year, Zoopy.com have established themselves as a significant player in the user-generated content space in Africa, with Nokia selecting them as their regional imaging partner for South and West Africa. More recently, Zoopy.com was also chosen as Mail & Guardian’s Online video delivery partner.
This deal will give Vodacom a 40% stake in the South African startup and affirms its change in direction by entering the multimedia market.
According to Tlhabeli C Ralebitso, Managing Director, Vodacom Ventures, the investment is an important move at just the right time for both parties. “Zoopy.com has established itself as a key role-player in the online social media arena and has a growing community that will now be able to grow bigger, better and faster.
“Vodacom puts great value in what has been achieved online thus far, and we look forward to combining mobile and internet strengths to create an even more valuable destination for all Zoopy.com users.”
CEO of Zoopy.com, Jason Elk, is pleased at having found the “perfect partner”. “At the beginning of this year we realised that we needed investment to roll out our strategy to its full potential. But from the start we were quite specific about the partner we were looking for.
“Funding was important, of course, but we wanted our investor to add value to the overall Zoopy.com user experience too. With Vodacom at our side, we’ll be able to bring many new features and opportunities to both their users and ours. This is exactly what we were looking for and we can’t wait to make it happen.”
For more info from Vodacom, contact:
Nicolene Visser
Corporate Communications
Vodacom Group
Tel : +27 (0)11 653 5741
As we continue 
