Toronto-based startup ExpertFile, which provides content marketing solutions for organizations, today announced a $1 million seed round from the Angel One Investor Network, Golden Triangle Angel Network (GTAN), Maple Leaf Angels and the Georgian Angel Network.
The ExpertFile software platform helps organizations to quickly create professional, engaging online profiles of their executives and experts to drive better quality connections with conferences, media and business prospects. With ExpertFile, organizations such as corporations, universities and colleges, healthcare institutions and industry trade associations can use a system to “amplify” their expert-related content, including biographies, speaking history, videos, articles, presentations and publications. Within a few hours, an organization can create an “Expert Center” that integrates directly into their website and boosts search rankings.
The platform currently hosts thousands of experts around the world who are now listed in its global directory. Over 40 organizations ranging from large educational institutions to Fortune1000 brands. Both ADP and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) are customers.
“We’re committed to helping experts and organizations better promote their thought leaders and subject-matter experts to a range of audiences such as events, media and business prospects,” said CEO Peter Evans. “This investment gives us additional resources to grow quickly and strategically, and deliver on our vision to help organizations drive more visitor engagement and connections through their website, in search and in our global online marketplace.”
Interestingly, Evans was formerly an early employee at Sympatico, an early Canadian Internet service provider (ISP), later known as Bell Sympatico. There he was said to have been largely responsible for the company’s marketing efforts that would ultimately propel it to Canada’s top ISP at the time.
ExpertFile will use the funding to “accelerate growth in the North American market and strengthen
its sales, marketing and customer success team.”
“As demonstrated by their strong sales growth, ExpertFile is delivering a compelling software and services platform,” said Randall Howard, managing partner of VERDEXUS. “As the lead investor we are also very pleased to see broad participation from a number of prominent angel groups who were impressed with the progress the ExpertFile team has made.”