Zoom Apps Fund: $100M Investment to Fuel App Ecosystem

Zoom's $100 Million Investment in its App Ecosystem

Last year, the launch of Zoom Apps and the associated Marketplace signaled a strategic shift for the company. It demonstrated an ambition to evolve beyond being solely a video conferencing application.

Expanding Beyond Video Conferencing

Zoom aimed to establish itself as a comprehensive platform. This platform would empower developers to construct applications directly integrated with Zoom’s core functionalities.

Today, Zoom announced a significant $100 million investment fund. This fund is designed to stimulate innovation by providing capital to promising startups leveraging the Zoom toolset.

Fund Objectives and Criteria

The investment serves a dual purpose: funding viable businesses and incentivizing broader developer adoption of the Zoom platform.

According to a blog post by Zoom’s Colin Born, the company is seeking ventures that demonstrate a functional product, initial market acceptance, and a dedication to developing within the Zoom ecosystem.

Investment Details and Management

Zoom’s corporate development team, in close collaboration with the executive leadership, will oversee the selection and management of portfolio companies.

Investments will range from $250,000 to $2.5 million per startup.

Supporting Startup Growth

Zoom CTO Brendan Ittelson emphasized the importance of providing startups with access to internal resources and connections. This support is intended to foster their growth and ensure their success.

A key objective is to encourage developers to utilize Zoom’s platform offerings. By investing in these startups, Zoom anticipates the creation of valuable experiences and an expanded ecosystem, ultimately benefiting its customers.

Developer Tools and Resources

Zoom offers a suite of developer tools designed to facilitate application development. These tools allow entrepreneurs to integrate Zoom functionality into their own applications.

In March, the company released an SDK (Software Development Kit) specifically designed to embed Zoom features within other applications.

Furthermore, Zoom provides tools for embedding applications directly within the Zoom interface. These are tailored for specific sectors, such as education and healthcare.

Comprehensive information about all available developer resources can be found at developer.zoom.us.

Existing Investment Landscape

Zoom is not the only entity investing in companies building on its platform. Venture capital firms including Sequoia, Maven Ventures, and Emergence Capital have already invested in startups like Mmhmm, Docket, and ClassEdu.

Seed Funding and Application Process

The new fund provides an additional funding avenue for startup founders. Initial investments will be at the seed stage, accompanied by dedicated developer and business support.

Entrepreneurs interested in applying for funding can do so directly through zoom.com/fund.