Chirpify founder and chief executive Chris Teso hopes to tap fervor around the campaign season to boost his startup’s profile. Portland startup Chripifyis getting political.
The Pearl District company — whose technology enables purchases on Twitter, with a single Tweet — is teaming up with an online campaign consulting firm to court politicians.
Chirpify and its new partner, Digital Acumen, say they have 25 House and Senate candidates signed up to use the
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Chirpify founder and chief executive Chris Teso hopes to tap fervor around the campaign season to boost his startup’s profile. Portland startup Chripifyis getting political.
The Pearl District company — whose technology enables purchases on Twitter, with a single Tweet — is teaming up with an online campaign consulting firm to court politicians.
Chirpify and its new partner, Digital Acumen, say they have 25 House and Senate candidates signed up to use the service during the current election season.
Chirpify has attracted a lot of attention among social media watchers — and $1.3 million in venture capital — for its technology. Its user base has doubled since its April funding round, according to founder and chief executive Chris Teso.
The seven-person Portland startup has proven especially attractive to independent musicians, who can promote new music on Twitter and sell the songs to their followers. Chripify takes a commission in each transaction.
Digital Acumen saw similar potential among candidates for office, and enlisted Chirpify to help its campaigns. (They’re not naming the politicians yet; each plans an individual announcement.)
“Every donation is viral,” Teso said. When someone Tweets their donation, all their Twitter followers see it, potentially inspiring contributions from the like-minded.
Four years ago, Portland mobile app developer Small Society hit the national radar by designing the Obama campaign’s official iPhone app at a time when smartphones were still new. (Walmart Labs bought Small Societyearlier this year for an undisclosed sum.)
Indeed, Teso said that during the last presidential election cycle Twitter was in its infancy and social media mores hadn’t advanced to the point where large numbers of people were enthusiastic about declaring their political allegiances on a broad platform.
Today, Teso said, there’s little resistance.
“Fundraising on Twitter is just natural,” he said. “Anywhere we can make payments frictionless, we’re going to do it.”
Separately, Chripify has created a website — www.tweetlection.com — soliciting donations to the Obama and Romney campaigns. Neither candidate has signed up with Chirpify yet, but Teso is hopeful that if the service generates enough money the presidential campaigns will come claim it.
“Of course,” Teso acknowledged, “we’re using it to raise our own awareness as well.”
— Mike Rogoway; twitter: @rogoway; phone: 503-294-7699