Sequoia-backed Bento desires be greater than a link-in-bio device for creators • robotechcompany.com

There are as many link-in-bio instruments out there for creators because the variety of hyperlinks they sometimes show on their pages. However there’s yet another addition to it. Sequoia-backed startup Bento is launching its device to let customers show their work in a chic approach throughout each desktop and cellular.

Bento, which has been below closed beta for the previous few months, is now accepting all customers. At present, the positioning gives well-designed pages with choices to resize and reorganize widgets simply. The great factor is that you just simply have so as to add hyperlinks to completely different pages, and the positioning will generate a wealthy preview for you. That makes it simpler for folks to spotlight particular elements of their work other than linking to a generic web page like a LinkedIn profile.

Picture Credit: Bento

The startup says that whereas hyperlink technology options can be found on different link-in-bio platforms, it has made it simpler so as to add hyperlinks and transfer round widgets even on cellular. Customers can even use the desktop web site to edit their cellular format.

The location gives some customization to hyperlink previews like displaying the final three jobs from the LinkedIn profile, the previous few pictures from Instagram, and the most recent GitHub tasks.

Bento’s long-term plan is to let folks eat content material on these pages. For example, sooner or later, customers visiting a web page will have the ability to play a YouTube video with out leaving the positioning. In the intervening time, if creators wish to present a video on their Bento web page, they will add a file on the positioning as an alternative of a hyperlink.

The thought behind the product

Zurich-based Bento is based by Sélim Benayat and Mugeeb Hassan. Benayat beforehand constructed RosieReality, a startup engaged on augmented actuality tech, and Hassan was the corporate’s first rent. The AR firm was acquired in 2020, however the founders didn’t say by whom.

Benayat and Hassan began constructing Bento in Could 2022 to assist creators who wish to make a dwelling on-line by serving to them perceive and develop their viewers.

“Mugeeb and I consider in an upcoming generational shift in how we work. Away from working at large corporations and extra in direction of launching artistic companies and private manufacturers. With Bento, we wish to assist this shift. We really feel strongly about empowering the artistic and the courageous to enterprise out and construct their very own enterprise,” Benayat mentioned in a dialog with robotechcompany.com.

Picture Credit: Bento/Nayella

The co-founders consider that a whole lot of instruments available in the market simply act as routers to different platforms. They need Bento to be a “vacation spot” for creators the place they will host their work, develop their viewers and generate income as effectively.

Benayat mentioned link-in-bio instruments typically simply redirect shoppers to different platforms, the place creators may not personal instruments for distribution or monetization.

“The reason being that social platforms give attention to CTRs on advertisements, slightly than serving to makers maximize the worth extracted per follower. There are massively misaligned incentives. Makers don’t personal their viewers nor the pipes to interact with them. All is mitigated by algorithms optimizing for platform-wide engagement,” he mentioned.

The corporate

The startup has raised $1.6 million in a pre-seed spherical led by Sequoia Arc together with participation from NextBlue and Gaingels Community.

Bento has a ton of competitors within the link-in-bio instruments house. Linktree is already a large in house. Final yr, the Australia-based startup turned a unicorn with its $110 million Collection C funding.

Different opponents embrace a16z-backed Beacon and CRV and Crossfeed Ventures-backed Snipfeed. Facetune app fame Israel-based firm Lightricks and stay streaming startup Streamlabs have additionally launched their link-in-bio instruments. If you happen to assume this record is just not sufficient there’s Shorby, Milkshake, Faucet.bio, lnk.bio, Hyperlink in Profile, bio.fm, and Campsite. So a reasonably packed house general.

The important thing differentiation could be how Bento permits customers to generate income out of their pages. The corporate desires to start out this course of by introducing widgets for donation acceptance — which is launching this week —and product choices. At first, Bento gained’t take a minimize from these donations.

“The pondering is – if we assist Bento-owners extra effectively transact and promote on Bento, we consider it’s honest to take part in that success. It aligns the incentives of the customers and us,” Benayat mentioned.

Within the coming months, other than enabling monetization choices for creators, Bento desires to start out rolling out options that may assist them construct a group.