Internet start-up RealCall Ltd has won $12m in first round venture funding to help the UK-based ‘digital response’ software company break into the US market. The funding comes from Advent Venture Partners of London, UK and Ireland’s ACT Venture Capital, and The funding values ReaCall at $40m, above average for a UK technology start-up.
RealCall provides an alert service that automatically notifies call center staff when a web customer needs attention. A user enters his phone number, clicks, and theoretically should receive a callback from a salesperson or customer service employee almost immediately. There is no initial outlay or implementation for the client, and RealCall funds itself making a charge for every alert forwarded to the client.
The company is also developing a more complex hardware-based digital TV-based product, to allow consumers to receive immediate callbacks from companies advertising on TV, simply by pressing a button on the remote control.
RealCall founder and COO Eric van der Kleij said an initial public offering is likely in the first quarter of next year, but the company is still pondering on which market to float. The TV product is more suited to Germany, so the Neuer Markt would be appropriate, he said, but the web product works better in America, so Nasdaq would be better. The company has not ruled out a listing on the proposed European Nasdaq.
