#RIFFSY GIF KEYBOARD ANDROID#

It still is, for some, and while Riffsy CEO David McIntosh is standing by the oft-mentioned Silicon Valley mantra that he’s focused on growth, not monetization, it is interesting to look at how a company like Riffsy might turn GIFs into a viable tech business. Back in March, it was one of the first partner apps to join Facebook’s Messenger platform, and earlier this fall it raised $10 million in funding from venture capital firms like Menlo Ventures and Redpoint Ventures.Ī few years ago, the idea of building a business on a niche keyboard or animated GIFs would have been hard to wrap your head around. It is also the exclusive GIF provider for LinkedIn. Last week, Riffsy announced an exclusive partnership deal with messaging startup Kik. There are more than half a dozen GIF keyboards that do something like this in the App Store, but for some reason, Riffsy seems to have separated itself from the pack. GIFs are a fun way for people to express themselves, akin to stickers and emojis and memes (which all have their own keyboards, too). Instead of asking your friend to explain something, just send a GIF of a befuddled Barack Obama. Instead of saying you’re sad, send a GIF of a teary-eyed Spongebob Squarepants. GIF keyboards temporarily replace the text keyboard on your phone so it’s easy to find and send short looping video clips when words just won’t cut it.

#RIFFSY GIF KEYBOARD ANDROID#

Riffsy, which offers a GIF keyboard for both iPhones and Android phones, seems to be making about as much noise as a GIF keyboard can make, having garnered exclusive partnerships and new funding.

Only in Silicon Valley would there be a “GIF keyboard of choice,” but that appears to be the case with two-year-old startup Riffsy, a business that may, one day, find a way to squeeze some money out of a product that surfaces looping cat-fail videos.

Riffsy gif keyboard