Justin Bieber Invests In New Teen-Focused Social Network. Time To Move Over Facebook?
Justin Bieber is trying to get his 'Timberlake' on by investing in a new teen-focused social network called 'Shots Of Me', which will launch on the Apple store later this week.
By Sadho Ram — 05 Nov 2013, 09:09 PM — Updated almost 11 years ago
A new teen-focused social network called 'Shots Of Me' will launch later this week, and its new lead investor is Justin Bieber
Bieber has invested $1.1 million (£689m) in Shots Of Me, a new social networking site from the developers of the social mobile game RockLive.
telegraph.co.uk
Other investors include venture capitalist Shervin Pishevar, boxer Floyd Mayweather and angel investor Tom McInerney.
cnn.com
It not only is Bieber's first-ever investment in a social network, but also is believed to be the first time he has made a VC investment independent of his manageer Scooter Braun.
According to RockLive chief executive, Bieber connected with the web developers after he started playing their RockLive game and tweeting about it
"We got to know Justin after he began playing our games and tweeting about it," says RockLive CEO John Shahidi, who founded the company several years back with his brother Sam.
thedomains.com
"He's been very involved in our products, helping us test things and providing feedback… "
cnn.com
"When we told him that we were looking to create a social network for teens that really addresses what they aren't getting on other networks, and which tries to deal with things like cyber-bullying, his eyes just lit up."
Shahidi declined to provide too many details about Shots Of Me, which will be released into the Apple store later this week. He did say, however, that it will not have a gaming focus. "We've really enjoyed making games, and have made a lot of money doing so, but this is something new."
gawker.com
Bieber already has a massive teenage social media following, it is now to be seen how his influence will affect downloads and usage
He has 46.5 million Twitter followers – making him the second most popular member of the micro-blogging website after fellow singer Katy Perry – and his first Instagram picture crashed the site’s servers.
theverge.com
RockLive has never used traditional marketing methods – no PR firm or press releases, for example – instead relying on digital word of mouth from users (in its past games, users were encouraged/enabled to share accomplishments without leaving the actual game).
cnn.com