Saturday, December 12, 2009

Company expands with $1m in private funding

SimplyCast to hire 15 workers, advance email marketing platform
By BILL POWER Business Reporter
Fri. Dec 11 - 4:46 AM

SimplyCast Interactive Marketing of Dartmouth has secured $1 million in private funding to advance its email marketing platform.

Saeed El-Darahali, the president and chief executive officer, said Thursday the private-investor support will allow the new company to enter new markets, develop new products and hire more people.

"We expect to hire at least 15 new people this upcoming year but anticipate continued growth," Mr. El-Darahali said.

SimplyCast is a provider of email marketing, event management and online surveys for small businesses.

"The ultimate objective is to establish a single marketing spot for companies and institutions," he said.

SimplyCast’s flagship email marketing product is used by customers in over 175 countries.

Mr. El-Darahali said the system has found niches in the retail, non-profit and hospitality sectors.

"Rapid adoption to date is proof it is easy for anyone to create permission-based email marketing campaigns with a professional look and feel," he said.

The software provides a suite of tools and services designed to drive new leads and sales revenue, maintain and grow customer email lists, and maximize profits of businesses and organizations.

"Email is one of the most powerful, cost-effective and easy to maintain business marketing tools available today for organizations of any size," he said.

Mr. El-Darahali, 29, is a graduate of Saint Mary’s University in Halifax. He instructs part time at the university and is a former venture analyst with Innovacorp, the provincial agency that supports technology startups.

He said the company is looking for staff and is especially interested in recent graduates of Saint Mary’s and Dalhousie universities.

SimplyCast is at 1 Research Dr. in the Woodside area of Dartmouth.

( bpower@herald.ca)