Freenom Closes $3M Series A Funding

freenomFreenom, an Amsterdam, Netherlands-based free domain name provider, closed a $3m Series A funding.

Backers included Kima Ventures.

The company intends to use the funds to expand its top level domain management operations, to expand its AnyCast cloud network and the development of commercial initiatives combining country top level domains with local communities.

Led by Joost Zuurbier, CEO & Founder, Freenom is managing the registry operations for the TK (Tokelau), GA (Gabon), CF (Central African Republic) and ML (Mali) top level domains.
Domains are provided for free to individuals and businesses worldwide. Free domain name registrants are found everywhere, especially in regions where the number of internet users is increasing (China, Brazil and other local partner countries, like Gabon and Mali).

Revenue is generated by monetizing the expired domain names, which are no longer used by the registrant or are expired. Freenom takes them back and the residual traffic is sold to advertisement networks. Additional revenue will be generated by offering digital white labeled services, such as hosting packages, SSL certificates and others, to free domain name users.
These new services will be available from January 2014 onwards.

The company operates a global network of more than 50 trusted partners that have implemented an API to take down domain names immediately when these domains are allegedly involved in spam, phishing or copyright infringement.
Partners include Facebook, Twitter, Anti Phishing Alliance of China and many others. As a result of this initiative .TK, the largest country code top level domain, is seen as one of the safest domains, according to a recent study of Architelos.

Freenom has satellite offices in Palo Alto (U.S.A.) and Dakar (Senegal).

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