#Asia This startup uses sound waves to help advertisers target people – and it just got funded

Screenshot from VAV Channel / YouTube.

Malaysian sound tech firm VAV today announced it bagged US$557,000 in funding from Axiata Digital Innovation Fund, which is managed by Intres Capital Partners.

It will use the money to commercially roll out its sound wave-based solutions in Malaysia, and expand to other markets such as China.

The startup uses inaudible sound waves to transmit digital content to smartphones, which it bills as a new way for businesses to engage consumers. For example, a television company can embed VAV’s inaudible audio signal into their programs to set notifications on viewers’ smartphones about any promotion or contest during airtime.

VAV’s product essentially delivers actionable messaging to the smartphone installed with its app or any VAV-enabled app over audio-visual content. The content may come from any form of media, including TV, radio, websites, Facebook, and YouTube.

“This timely injection of funds will allow VAV to fast-track and gear up the marketing of the VAV solutions to more media companies to help them enhance their advertising campaigns,” says executive chairman Wan Kamarul Zaman Wan Yaacob.

“Through VAV applications, businesses will be able to optimize their promotional and advertising campaigns as well as to be able to track campaign results and measure their impacts on a real-time basis,” he continues.

Prior to Axiata’s investment, the company secured around US$111,000 from Unit Peneraju Agenda Bumiputera, and another US$111,000 from Malaysia’s Cradle Fund.

We’ve contacted the founder for more details on the funding and the company’s progress and we’ll update this story when we hear back.

Startup 365

Entrepreneurs – Startups

#Asia This startup uses sound waves to help advertisers target people – and it just got funded