ReplyYes has been accepted into the Disney Accelerator’s 2017 class to continue building out its chat commerce platform that allows retailers to sell products to customers via text message.
The accelerator accepts companies using technology to innovate in media and entertainment, making ReplyYes an ideal candidate. The Seattle Startup’s first channel was The Edit, a vinyl record retailer. Since launching 18 months ago, The Edit has sold more than 100,000 albums with help from ReplyYes.
ReplyYes also has a service that allows musicians to sell concert tickets and merchandise to fans by texting them, under a partnership with Universal Music Group announced in February.
Using ReplyYes, retailers and influencers can send text messages to customers asking if they’re interested in a particular deal or sale. Customers can simply respond “yes” to purchase the item and can teach the chatbot their preferences by responding, “like” or “dislike.”
Last year, ReplyYes also launched its second text-based storefront after The Edit. The channel is called Origin Bound and applies the same approach to graphic novels.
Since spinning out of Madrona Venture Labs, the startup has grown to 20 employees and raised $6.5 million.
