Escapex Explained

Escapex, stylized as escapex, was a mobile app developer specializing in white-label fan engagement apps for celebrities. It was founded by Sephi Shapira in 2014 and has raised $18 million in funding.[1] It allows celebrities to reach fans directly, as well as receiving revenue from fans through its freemium model.

Overview

Shapira is Israeli and previously founded Interchan and MassiveImpact. He graduated from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.

The company has raised $18 million in funding. Its 2018 revenue was $5.5 million. In 2016, the company had 57 employees split between Tel Aviv and New York City.

The company's General Manager is Joe Cuello, formerly an executive at MTV, then Chief Creative Officer at TuneCore.[2] [3] [4] Their director of social engagement is Rafe Lopresti-Oakes.[5]

A press release from the company described the service as having a "proprietary loyalty program" which allows "monetization of social engagement through e-commerce and in-app advertising". App launches typically offered a contest for one fan to meet the celebrity.[6] The app also allows Escapex to collect and monetize user profiles for advertising.[7]

The New York Times described the concept of Escapex, musing, "If people love you, why not make money from them?".

Notable apps

The company has created over 350 applications, including:

Bollywood stars

Escapex has a large roster of Bollywood celebrities, including:

Jeremy Renner app

Renner released a mobile app called "Jeremy Renner" (Android) and "Jeremy Renner Official" (iOS) in March 2017.[20]

FastCompany wrote extensively about Renner's app in April 2019, calling it "a surprising new kind of social media".[13] The Ringer's Kate Knibbs, explaining how self-referential the app is, summarized it stating "Jeremy Renner’s Jeremy Renner app is the Jeremy Renner of apps."[21]

The community developed to include memes, selfies, and a "Happy Rennsday" event on Wednesdays. As early as October 2017 there were claims of censorship, bullying, and "contest-rigging". In September 2019, comedian Stefan Heck wrote about discovering that any replies through the app would appear as if they were sent by Renner himself in push notifications. Heck wrote about notifications making it appear Renner was a big enthusiast of "porno"; other users made it appear Renner was a big fan of Casey Anthony. Renner had to ask Escapex to shut down the app the following day, stating "The app has jumped the shark. Literally."[22] [23] [24] [5] [14]

In September 2020, comedian/writer Caroline Goldfarb and actress Sarah Ramos launched The Renner Files podcast, a six-part series investigating the Jeremy Renner app.[25]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Author: <span class="vcard">Sephi Shapira . TechCrunch . 31 May 2016. 10 July 2020 .
  2. Web site: Fast Growing Influencer App Developer EscapeX Names Joe Cuello General Manager . EscapeX . prnewswire.com . 15 March 2017 . 10 July 2020 .
  3. Web site: Joe Cuello . Carnegie Mellon University's Heinz College . 10 July 2020 . Previously Joe joined escapex as General Manager in 2017. Escapex is a tech startup focused on decentralizing social media via individualized apps, serving actors/musicians/athletes/infuencers that have significant social reach. Putting monetization and control back into the heads of the creators, escapex has launched apps for Bob Marley, Marc Anthony, Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Jeremy Renner and over 100 more global stars..
  4. Web site: Social Media App Developer EscapeX Names Ex-MTV Exec Joe Cuello GM . All Access . 10 July 2020 .
  5. Web site: Jeremy Renner's App Is Full of Drama . Kate Knibbs . The Ringer . 17 October 2017 . 10 July 2020 .
  6. Web site: Actor Jeremy Renner Launches Free Mobile App for Fans in Partnership with escapex . escapex . prnewswire.com . 22 March 2017 . 10 July 2020 .
  7. Web site: Enrique, Akon and 100+ artists love this new music platform - ISRAEL21c . Abigail Klein Leichman . ISRAEL21c . 9 April 2016 . 10 July 2020 .
  8. Web site: Rohan Marley Launches Search for the Biggest Bob Marley Fan in the U.S. via Official Music App as Part of Week-long Celebration of His Father's Birthday . EscapeX . prnewswire.com . 1 February 2017 . 10 July 2020 .
  9. Marc Anthony Launches New Mobile App With escapex . Billboard . 31 March 2017 . 10 July 2020 .
  10. Web site: Three Soap Faves Launch App To Connect Directly With Fans . Soap Opera Digest . 22 June 2017 . 10 July 2020 .
  11. Web site: Niecy Nash Launches Free Mobile App to Focus on Love! . escapex . prnewswire.com . 29 September 2017 . 10 July 2020 .
  12. Web site: Actor/Singer Tyler Posey Launches Free Mobile App via escapex . escapex . prnewswire.com . 26 September 2017 . 10 July 2020 .
  13. Web site: Influencers are flocking to a surprising new kind of social media . Katharine Schwab . Fast Company . 8 April 2019 . 10 July 2020 .
  14. Web site: Jeremy Renner and the New Walled Garden of Celebrity . Jonah Engel Bromwich . Niraj Chokshi . . 9 September 2019 . 10 July 2020 .
  15. News: Sunny Leone launches her own app EscapeX . The Mobile Indian . 1 December 2016 . 10 July 2020 .
  16. Web site: Remo D'Souza is set to launch his own app . Sonil Dedhia . mid-day . 4 January 2017 . 10 July 2020 .
  17. Web site: Amy Jackson launches her own mobile app . Mumbai Mirror . 4 March 2017 . 10 July 2020 .
  18. Web site: Kajal Aggarwal launches her own app to connect with fans - Times of India . The Times of India . 19 March 2017 . 10 July 2020 .
  19. Web site: Nargis Fakhri launches the Nargis Fakhri Official App - Photos . Bollywood Garam . 11 April 2017 . 10 July 2020 .
  20. Web site: Jeremy Renner Launches App to Connect Directly With Fans . Chris Gardner . The Hollywood Reporter . 22 March 2017 . 10 July 2020 .
  21. Web site: A Comprehensive Review of Jeremy Renner's App, "Jeremy Renner" . Kate Knibbs . The Ringer . 23 March 2017 . 10 July 2020 .
  22. Web site: I Broke The Official Jeremy Renner App By Posting The Word "Porno" On It . Heck . Stefan . The Concourse . 3 September 2019 . 10 July 2020 .
  23. Web site: The Rise and Fall of the Jeremy Renner App, Which Was a Real Thing . Niraj Chokshi . . 5 September 2019 . 10 July 2020 .
  24. IainND . 1169366607107219458 . 4 September 2019 . Heartbreaking development on the Jeremy Renner app .
  25. Web site: Two "amateur investigative journalists" made a 6-part podcast about Jeremy Renner's shitty app . Reid McCarter . avclub.com . 16 September 2020 . 1 Oct 2020 .

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