In brief: K-pop app gets funding from Bithumb, others for Southeast Asia expansion

K-pop video community Amazer has raised US$1.3 million in series A funding from Bithumb affiliate BTC Investment, ICB, and others.

Founded in 2016, Amazer provides a video community platform where users can share their passion for K-pop artists and music. The app allows users to upload 15- to 30-second videos of them dancing or lip syncing to K-pop songs. They can rise to in-app fame by doing well in “battles,” where other users have to choose between two videos on a split-screen display and “swipe right” to vote for their favorite, which helps their favorite influencers boost in the leaderboard ranking.

Source: Amazer

The startup said the funding will be used to scale new business models and expand its user base, particularly in Southeast Asia.

South Korea-based Amazer has worked with K-pop groups including Dreamcatcher, Momoland, and Monsta X, helping them to promote their albums by giving users the chance to record and upload their own cover versions of the groups’ dance videos.

Amazer is available for download in 121 countries, and over 90 percent of its users are outside South Korea.