Viddsee raises USD2.3 million to date, after bringing Japan-based CyberAgentVentures (CAV) as lead investor in its latest round of funding to develop the new wave of mobile-powered cinema, starting with Asia.

Viddsee is a hybrid online video platform that showcases short films on its web platform and through its mobile Viddsee app. It was founded two years ago by Ho Jia Jian and Derek Tan, two entrepreneurs in Singapore with a background in filmmaking and engineering.

Through partnerships with content creators and organisations, Viddsee's extensive curation of films represent unique and diverse voices from Asia. These include well-loved genres like horror, thrillers, romance, comedy, drama, documentaries, and emerging stories about women, sexuality, and adolescence.

“We have witnessed a dramatic rise of short film consumption since our founding two years ago.It’s not a stretch of the imagination to have a film viewed by half a million people, which is an equivalent of 3,000 full house screenings. In mobile-first Asia, short films are even more personal. It’s in our pockets,” says Viddsee co-founder Derek Tan.

“With this accessibility, the cinematic experience is no longer passive. We have built our product and engaged users around short films, and will continue to power the conversations by strategic, contextualised editorial marketing. This is seen in key regional markets such as in Indonesia, Taiwan and the Philippines,” Viddsee’s other co-founder Ho Jia Jian, adds.

Viddsee launched its app for iOS and Android with a rich cinematic user experience for mobile users who spend more time on their mobile device compared to any other device. This includes an offline playback feature which delivers seamless playback despite mobile connectivity.

“There’s no lack of content or creativity from Asia, but the real push in creating relevance with audiences is accessibility in both medium and content. We are confident that technology will facilitate the new wave for cinematic content in the online video space, especially in markets like Indonesia where mobile devices are the first touch points to the Internet for many. Viddsee can become the platform to provide them with their first experience of watching quality films. Our investment will enable Viddsee to realise its market potential and in its commitment to grow through accessibility and engagement,” says Takahiro Suzuki, spokesperson for CAV.