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POPSTAR NIALL HORAN has taken a small stake in Irish startup Emojitiones following a partnership deal with the app-development outfit.
As part of the link-up with Horan, Dublin-based Emojitiones developed the ‘NiallMoji’ app for the former One Direction star.
The app, which has a library of Niall Horan emojis, is on sale in the Apple and Google app stores for $1.99. Its emojis can be used across all smartphone messaging platforms.
Emojitiones, an app that puts sounds to emojis, was founded by Guy de Bromhead at the beginning of 2015.
Speaking to Fora, de Bromhead said his firm wasn’t paid any money up front for developing the emoji app, which was launched at the same time as Horan’s recent debut solo album. Instead, the startup will take a cut of the proceeds from app sales.
“It’s specifically his, and a spin-off product we’ve produced. The whole idea behind the link-up with Niall was he would promote his app to his 65 million social media followers and then you hope you get the downloads.”
As part of the deal, Emojitones shares have been issued to Horan through Lee & Thompson, a London-based law firm that specialises in representing creative talent.
A small stake in the company was also issued to UK talent agency Modest Management, which handles a number of high-profile music acts including Horan, Little Mix and One Direction.
According to de Bromhead, developing more spin-off apps with acts like Horan is a method the startup is exploring to grow the business.
He said the deal came about after he got in contact with the Irish popstar, who had been keen to develop the app.
“That’s the first app we’ve done. We’re looking at the analytics now and will see where it takes us from here moving forward,” de Bromhead said.
He added that there are deals in the pipeline to develop more emoji apps for acts in the music business.
However, unlike the deal with Horan, future agreements wouldn’t involve handing over a stake in the company in return for plugging the product, according to de Bromhead.
“It would be more about sharing profit from whatever the app generates on the basis they promote it to all their following on social media.”
Funding
Emojitones, an app that puts sounds to emojis, is the main product developed to date by the startup.
A number of its emojis are free to download and use in messaging apps, but its broader library is behind a paywall.
Last year, Emojitones raised nearly €500,000 from a string of investors, including notable names from the sporting sphere. The company recorded a slender loss during the same 12-month period.
Former world professional snooker champion Ken Doherty was among the backers, while company filings also showed that de Bromhead’s brother, accomplished horse trainer Henry de Bromhead, put in some cash as well.
De Bromhead said he would like to raise further funds to grow the business at a faster pace globally.
“The business can absolutely bankroll itself, but that can only work to a certain level. Obviously with something like this it’s about volume, so you need to get out to the greater audience which is beyond the territory we’re in now.
“For something as big as this, you need to be getting out to as many markets as you can, which needs money to bankroll.”
Written by Killian Woods and posted on Fora.ie
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Hailo raised it percentage take and lost taxi drivers.
When was that?just curious
Hailo charge 12% commisssion, that’s it. No €79.00 or €99.00 a week with Citycabs/Global/Lynk.
Still has over half the Dublin fleet at 7,000+
Hailo will lose more drivers if they keep uping the aunty with price and rules silly rules !
You can’t up an “Aunty”, well maybe you can. Upping the ante is another thing. lol
They do take credit card but yes you do have to sign up first
They lost me when they stooped the use of their credit card facilities for non bailout jobs/customers it was extremely handy
What is a non bailout job or customer
I think he misspelled it ……..its meant to read non hailo jobs as in you used to be able to take credit card jobs of the street now the customer has to download the app if they want to pay by card…….stupid idea from hailo…
Hailo have added the option to pre book now so that’s not a unique feature for lynk
Hailo had to add that feature because it was the next step …….and to keep up with other apps that have that feature before them ….e.g…cab:app
My husband left a cab company recently. The company sold the controlling share to the guy named above. They thought that they could sell the drivers rent as part of the business package, (Approx’ €5K per year),forgetting that the drivers hire the cab company to supply them with work, and they work for the driver. Not wanting any association withthe new owners, he fired them.
He wondered why, as he calls it “the Weakest Lynk”, chose the exact same colour branding as Hailo? Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery I suppose.
Lynk taxis. €25 free sign up. €5 per journey if you pay by card but wait there’s a €3 booking fee before you sit in the taxi. It is removed after you use your “free” €25. So, free €10 sign up.
They can’t charge €3 for booking ! €2 is max Hailo don’t charge for booking
They do. I got a taxi that usually costs less than €5 and cost me over €8. Minus the “five” free. When you contact them they say that is taken off when your €25 is up.
I always use the lynk app ( Irish owned company)
To be fair Hailo was set up by 3 guys one Irish
it was set up back 3 London black cab drivers
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