Zoopy founders call it quits

The mobile video company, now owned by mobile operator Vodacom, is losing its founders. By Craig Wilson.

Added by Craig Wilson on 26 July 2012.
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Local video company Zoopy, which is now wholly owned by Vodacom, has lost its founders, CEO Jason Elk and operations director Pat Elk. Zoopy was founded in 2007 as local and mobile competitor of sorts to YouTube.

At launch, the service allowed users to upload and share video content, images, podcasts and blogs, but is now more heavily focused on offering entertainment news snippets to readers along with images and video.

Zoopy is available in application form for the iPhone, Android handsets and BlackBerry devices.

In a statement, Jason Elk says that since the pair launched Zoopy in 2007, “we have built a company and service that we have been incredibly proud of”.

“We have decided that it’s now time for us to move on to new opportunities and we will be leaving Zoopy at the end of September.”

Vodacom owns 100% of Zoopy, having gradually purchased stakes in the company since first investing in 2008.

Last week the mobile operator said in a statement that it was “looking at options for Zoopy that include bringing in a partner to invest and help grow the business”.

Vodacom spokesman Richard Boorman says that he can’t comment on the process. He was also unable to disclose how much the operator paid for the company.

Jason Elk says of the pair’s future plans: “We don’t have any concrete plans just yet, but we are considering a number of different options to pursue after 1 October.”  — (c) 2012 NewsCentral Media

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