MessageDesk, a text messaging software provider catering to small to mid-sized businesses (SMBs), has successfully raised $1.6 million in a Seed investment round. The funding was led by the Reno Seed Fund and included new investments from AZ-VC, Acadian Capital Ventures, Arizona Tech Investors, and Desert Angels, as well as support from the Sierra Innovations Entrepreneur Fund of the Sierra Angels.
MessageDesk’s platform is designed to facilitate efficient business communication by directing messages to the appropriate recipients and locations at the right times. The company plans to achieve over $1 million in Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) in 2023 and anticipates reaching 1,000 SMB customers by the end of Q1 2024 while expanding its mid-market customer base.
Gene Wong, Managing Partner of The Reno Seed Fund, emphasized the appeal of investing in companies like MessageDesk that demonstrate the ability to generate sustainable recurring revenue, noting that proven and successful SaaS startups are rare finds.
Clint Vernon, Co-Founder and CEO of MessageDesk, highlighted the platform’s success in establishing product-market fit with over 600 SMB and mid-market customers. The new funds will support the company’s efforts to scale its marketing, sales, and customer success operations, as well as enhance the platform by introducing features like AI-driven sentiment analysis, team chatbots, and voice-to-text.
Ben Brockwell, Partner at AZ-VC, emphasized the alignment of MessageDesk’s focus on streamlining the user experience and strategic growth plans with the investment philosophy of AZ-VC, especially in light of evolving work conditions and the demand for increased efficiency and coordination in mobile work environments.
MessageDesk’s successful fundraising effort underscores the potential of its innovative solution and business model in addressing the needs of SMBs, with a particular focus on streamlining communication and facilitating efficient service delivery.
This development also highlights the growth of the startup ecosystem in Reno, Nevada, where MessageDesk is based, with both local and out-of-state investors recognizing the company’s commitment to serving the SMB market.
