Bangalore-based mobile startup ZipDial Mobile Solutions Pvt Ltd started with an approach to break free from the SMS spam clutter and improve lead generation. Zipdial basically uses a missed call to register a mobile number. Once a user sees the ZipDial number on a poster or on TV, all he/she has to do is dial it. It’s a local number that ZipDial purchases for all states from telecom operators. The call gets automatically disconnected so the user is not billed. The user’s number is captured by Zipdial’s platform and these numbers are pulled by its clients. The clients then use the mobile numbers of users who have shown interest in their product or data to send coupons, promotional messages and offers.
In April this year, the startup confirmed it raised it first round of funding of Rs 3.5 crore led by Mumbai Angels, in which US-based angel investors also participated. The company, founded in 2010, has been using the money for expanding its team, building better infrastructure and on product innovation.
The company is looking to break even by end of this year and aims to garner five times the revenue it generated last year.
With a B2B business model, ZipDial is embarking on various initiatives like direct response ad, customer feedback, solutions for e-commerce companies regarding COD, verification of mobile numbers and a lot more.
VCCircle caught up with Valerie Rozycki Wagoner, Founder and CEO of ZipDial who speaks about how the company is creating intelligent customer engagements via missed call.
She also talks about expansion plans, fundraising, tapping the smartphone market and how voice dialling and SMS are recreating value for a lot of large and small businesses by harnessing consumer behaviour.
(Edited by Prem Udayabhanu)
