Unisfair captures $3.2M to host virtual events

unisfairUnisfair, a firm that hosts virtual events, particularly job fairs that you don’t have to attend in person, has brought in $3.2 million of an anticipated $9.3 million round of equity, according to a filing with the SEC. The Menlo Park, Calif.-based company just bolstered its offerings by integrating Facebook and Twitter into its event experiences.

Unisfair’s platform allows you to create a digital character, or avatar, that you can navigate through a faux exhibition hall to interact with others, attend panel discussions and keynotes, or stop by booths set up by other companies. It targets its services at larger companies looking to host events with a large number of remote attendees. They usually find new clients through partnerships with marketing firms.

Unisfair competes with companies like InXpo (which just raised $9 million two weeks ago), iCongo and On24, which also provide platforms for hosting digital events. These firms reported an uptick in business during the economic downturn, mostly because companies wanted to save money on hosting elaborate, real-life events or paying for travel to conferences and fairs. Unisfair in particular saw a bump due to its focus on job events.

The company previously raised $19 million from Norwest Venture Partners and Sequoia Capital. BCS Growth Fund has a representative on its board of directors.

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About the Author, Camille Ricketts

Camille is the lead writer for GreenBeat. She came to VentureBeat from Google where she worked on its traditional platforms team, particularly in TV. Before that, she was a reporter for the Wall Street Journal in New York and London. Follow her on Twitter at @camillericketts, and follow VentureBeat on Twitter at @venturebeat.

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