Subtext, a Palo Alto, CA-based digital reading company, has raised $3m in seed funding.
Backers include Google Ventures, Mayfield Fund, New Enterprise Associates (NEA) and Omidyar Network.
Founded in 2010 by Andrew Goldman, CEO; Adam Iarossi, CTO; Todd Robertson, vice president of engineering; and Rachel Thomas, vice president of marketing and strategic partnerships, Subtext today released its first product, a state-of-the-art reading app for the iPad.
The company collaborated with authors from several U.S. publishers—including Byliner, Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins, Penguin Group (USA), Random House, Inc., Simon & Schuster and Algonquin, a division of Workman — to offer a collection of eighteen books spanning genres such as literary and popular fiction, mystery, suspense, business and science. All books (read the list below) are enriched with additional content, including author and expert commentary, and available with free previews.
Subtext will continue to deliver new bookshelves at regular intervals throughout the year. Consumers can also purchase any book available in the Google eBookstore, and it will be automatically added to th company’s bookshelf.
FinSMEs
25/10/2011
Lists of Books on First Subtext Shelf:
The Baby Chase, a Byliner Original, Holly Finn
The Chairs Are Where the People Go, Misha Glouberman & Sheila Heti
The Dog Who Knew Too Much, Spencer Quinn
A Game of Thrones, George R.R. Martin
Girl in Translation, Jean Kwok
Incognito, David Eagleman
In the Plex, Steven Levy
It All Changed in an Instant: More Six-Word Memoirs…, Larry Smith & Rachel Fershleiser
The Lotus Eaters, Tatjana Soli
Machine Man, Max Barry
Miss Lonelyhearts, Nathaniel West
The Magician King, Lev Grossman
A Reliable Wife, Robert Goolrick
The Sherlockian, Graham Moore
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, Lisa See
The True Memoirs of Little K, Adrienne Sharp
Under the Tuscan Sun, Frances Mayes
Wicked Bugs, Amy Stewart