Adventr Raises $5M Seed Funding - Interactive Streaming Platform

Adventr: Revolutionizing Interactive Media

The concept for Adventr originated with its Founder and CEO, Devo Harris, during his professional engagements within the music industry.

Harris explained that Adventr’s inception stemmed from his experiences crafting content for prominent artists such as Kanye West, Britney Spears, and Nas.

The Power of Engagement

He observed that music videos incorporating interactive elements experienced a significant surge in popularity.

This demonstrated that captivating audiences wasn't solely dependent on high-budget production and elaborate editing techniques.

From Media Executive to Startup Founder

Driven by this insight, Harris transitioned from his position as a Grammy-winning media executive to embark on a new venture as the founder of an early-stage startup.

The result is Adventr, a SaaS tool enabling the creation, viewing, and distribution of interactive media.

Users can engage with videos through various methods, including touchscreens, mouse clicks, and even voice commands.

Introducing SmartListen

Adventr has patented a groundbreaking voice-controlled technology known as “SmartListen.”

This innovation allows media content to dynamically adapt mid-stream in response to spoken instructions.

Potential applications include advertisements, where viewers could verbally request to “buy the green shirt.”

Alternatively, filmmakers utilizing Adventr could empower audiences to influence the narrative, such as instructing a character in a horror film to “don’t go down that hallway!”

Availability of SmartListen

While the full capabilities of the patented SmartListen technology are not yet widely available, Harris anticipates its release to select partners in early 2022.

“It’s a game changer and is going to open creators’ minds to the possibilities of connected media beyond clicking in a video,” Harris stated to TechCrunch.

Rapid Growth and Recognition

Adventr quickly gained recognition, becoming a top-5 finalist in the Startup Battlefield at TechCrunch Disrupt just a year after its launch.

The company has been actively refining its product through beta testing, amassing a user base of 8,000.

Notable beta users include AsiaNet News, MSI Gaming, SK Interactive, and the New South Wales government.

These organizations benefit from access to detailed analytics regarding user interaction with their videos, providing valuable consumer insights.

Seed Funding and Expansion

Following its successful showing at Disrupt, Adventr secured $5 million in seed funding.

The investment round was led by Paladin Capital, with participation from Reinventure Capital, In/Visible Ventures, and EGOT-winner John Legend.

Legend is also a longtime collaborator and former college roommate of Harris.

“We saw a six-figure jump in revenue immediately following Disrupt, and to this day we receive inbounds from people who see our pitch video online,” Harris reported.