Vidigami Raises $1.25 Million Seed Round to Provide Photo-Sharing Service for Schools

Vidigami has raised some seed funding.

The Vancouver-based startup closed a seed round of $1.25 million. The round was led by current investor Andrew Wright, managing director of Wright Ventures LLC, with participation from several others, including Aaron Rallo, former president of PNI Digital Media; James Fletcher, Director of Vision Critical; and Robert Cruickshank, chair of Canadian Accredited Independent Schools.

Vidigami says it will use the funds to fuel future growth in the billion-dollar photo industry, investing in sales, marketing and product innovation. The Canadan company is a private photo-sharing and photo-management system specifically designed to help schools worldwide better capture, organize, store and share their photos with their school community.

“I’ve spent my career building digital imaging and consumer publishing businesses, ” says Andrew Wright, former CEO and founder of Seattle-based Smilebox.com. “Vidigami has identified a valuable segment of the consumer photo market that is under-served.  I believe the opportunity is very exciting, and I look forward to continuing to help Vidigami realize its vision.”

“There is no better way to share the experience schools are offering than through photos,” says Rob Cruickshank. “Whether its parents, teachers, staff or students, precious memories are collected but seldom shared. Vidigami provides a safe, secure, easy to use environment to make these memories available to those who cherish them.”

“For schools, an emotional attachment for parents increases the likelihood of their financial support,” he adds. “I’ve seen this first hand in my time at St George’s and through the other CAIS schools. Vidigami helps create that attachment for the parents while their sons and daughters are at the school and for the alumni after they have left.”

Vidigami was created by mother-of-two Mandy Chan, who became frustrated with the lack of a central place for parents, faculty and staff to capture and share school memories.

“Thousands of photos are taken throughout the school year by teachers, families and students, but historically, there has not been a shared repository to capture all these precious school memories,” says Chan. “Vidigami provides students with a place they can access to reflect on their most memorable school moments. We provide families with a personalized window into their children’s school life. And, we provide schools with an opportunity to engage and share with their community all the great things that happen there, all around the number one reason why we’re all there – our children.”

Vidigami was launched in 2013.