Acquire, Be Acquired, Or IPO: $15M From FTV Lets Social Marketer Shoutlet Choose Its Destiny

Shoutlet had several companies trying to buy it, and 15 venture capital firms trying to fund it. But it took a?$15 million Series C from?FTV Capital?because they offered it a premium valuation, the?freedom to buy startups, and the sure-footing to scale towards an IPO or be acquired. CEO Jason Weaver tells me FTV gave Shoutlet?the option to take extra money for acquisitions, and has limited partners like Bank Of America who could underwrite a potential IPO.?It'll need the firepower if it's going to compete with recently acquired rivals Buddy Media ($689M) and Vitrue ($300M). Shoutlet will use the cash to expand its products, and hire business and sales staff. It's also considering buying a Facebook Ads API company the way?Buddy Media bought Brighter Option, and I see XA.net and GraphEffect as likely targets. Social's here to stay, so when brands realize they need help, Shoutlet will be ready to make their voices heard.

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