Circa Mobile News App Launches Online Platform For Following News

Circa

Circa, a small Canadian startup that offers short news stories optimized for mobile with several key points via an iOS app, has launched its web platform for browsing and following stories (via TechCrunch). The aim of Circa News iOS app is to give readers the main points of each relevant news story. While the online version does’t offer full app functionality yet, the company is determined to complete it by the end of this year.

“We’re doing a lot of things to bring the web more in line with our mobile,” co-founder and CEO Matt Galligan tells me. “It’s about closing that loop.”

Galligan says what sets Circa News apart is that the stories are written for mobile, rather than a longer reading experience. “Our intent is not to make a summary; it’s not to make something smaller,” he tells me.

Using the Circa website, users can access the news they want more often, whose purpose according to the company CEO is to expand Circa’s reach. The iOS app has already been downloaded a few hundred thousand times in the App Store. Galligan notes that according to Flurry, Circa users spend 50% more time in the app than on average in other news apps.

Galligan says what sets Circa News apart is that the stories are written for mobile, rather than a longer reading experience. “Our intent is not to make a summary; it’s not to make something smaller,” he said.

“Circa is also working on adding a breaking news feature, adding news categories and user interface improvements, Galligan tells me. New areas of coverage that Circa News is looking into include business, finance, entertainment and sports.”

Gilligan shared that Circa has raised $1.65 million in seed funding and is planning on bringing its iOS 7 optimized app very soon.

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