UPDATED: Boston-based Startup Howler Launches Mobile Marketing App after Raising $200k in Seed Funding

Boston, MA, February 23, 2015 (Newswire.com) - UPDATE: The original press release outlining the launch of the Howler app mistakenly reported that Kontakt.io, Howler’s sole beacon provider, is a Swedish-based hardware startup. That information is incorrect; Kontakt.io is based in Krakow, Poland with offices in London and New York City. The press release has been amended below with the correct information.

Howler, the Boston-based mobile marketing startup, has launched their highly anticipated app in support of more than 200 participating shops and restaurants. Apple’s app store release represents a major milestone for the bootstrapped startup founded by friends Hunter Gaylor and Joe Viscomi. After a successful seed round and beta test period, the one year-old startup has experienced rapid and unexpected growth. This growth has also been fueled by the slow demise of deal delivery services Groupon and LivingSocial, who have both experienced diminishing profits and increasing skepticism from mom and pop retailers, restaurants and service providers.

"Howler does more than enable businesses to engage their customers. Instead, we're helping them start conversations with customers, and allowing people to discover their city in a way that was never before possible."

Hunter Gaylor, Co-Founder

Using Apple’s iBeacon technology, the Howler app uniquely connects businesses to potential consumers based on the mobile user’s shopping and dining preferences in a convenient and non-intrusive fashion—all while conserving battery life thanks to Bluetooth (BTLE) technology. Howler has been able to take full advantage of the use of iBeacons through an exclusive partnership with Polish hardware company Kontakt.io. Kontakt.io, founded in 2013 with the goal of using beacon technology to improve accessibility for the vision-impaired has catapulted from a modest startup to a leading global iBeacon hardware and software provider. To date, Howler has placed over 500 beacons across the Boston metropolitan area, the largest number of beacons per square mile in America.

Designed to challenge traditional deal delivery services, Howler brings deals to the consumer through geolocation rather than leaving the consumer to search for and then travel to the discounted meal, service or product. This represents an effortless shopping experience compared to industry rivals.

Says co-founder and connector Hunter Gaylor, “Howler does more than enable businesses to engage their customers. Instead, we’re helping them start conversations with customers, and allowing people to discover their city in a way that was never before possible.”

Howler has formed partnerships with a wide range of companies in the greater Boston area and beyond. Most recently, Orange Leaf’s Davis Square franchise signed on with Howler, a move which demonstrates the popular frozen yogurt chain’s commitment to advancing technology and the local economy. In addition to connecting with more Boston businesses, Howler has set its sights on establishing a presence in the New York, San Francisco and Las Vegas metro areas.

For business owners Howler is an affordable, empowering tool with an easy to navigate dashboard. Sending a deal or alert – known as a “Howl” — to consumers within a 200 feet range is a simple as posting a photo to Facebook or Twitter. For novices, Howler provides online tutorials and attentive customer service.  

“To put it frankly, Howler is the easiest and most intuitive mobile deals app on the market,” explains Joe Viscomi. “Howler puts the power of marketing back into the hands of small businesses by enabling them to easily identify and analyze their target markets. For both shoppers and retailers, there’s nothing better out there.”

For just $99, business owners can subscribe to Howler’s data analytics and marketing software suite for one year and are entitled to unlimited Howls. After one year of use, Howler’s pricing plan converts to a pay-per-visit model, similar to the pay-per-click approach embraced by companies such as Google and Amazon. The Howler app is currently available for download on Apple’s app store, with an Android framework version set for release in Fall 2015.

For more information visit www.howler.at