Magisto

{{short description|American technology company (2009-2019)}} {{promotional|date=April 2017}} {{Infobox company | name = Magisto | logo = MagistoLogo.png | founded = {{start date and age|2009}} | defunct = {{end date and age|2019}} | fate = Acquired by Vimeo and shut down | founder = {{Unbulleted list|Oren Boiman|Alex Rav-Acha}} | hq_location = Mountain View, California | hq_location_country = U.S. | industry = Video editing and video marketing | products = {{Unbulleted list|Magisto Web Online Video Editor |Magisto Mobile App Video Editor }} | parent = Vimeo }} '''Magisto''' provided an online video editing tool (both as a web application and a mobile app) for automated video editing and production. In 2019, the company was acquired by Vimeo for an estimated US$200 million.

The Magisto app contained a library of music. The music, largely by independent artists, was sorted by mood and is licensed for in-app use.

Magisto had a freemium business model where users can create basic video clips for free. In addition, advanced business, professional and personal service tiers are available via various subscription plans, unlocking more features; such as longer videos, HD, premium themes, customization, and control features.

==History== Magisto was founded in 2009 as SightEra (LTD) by Oren Boiman (CEO) and Alex Rav-Acha (CTO). Boiman, frustrated with the amount of time it took editing together videos of his daughter, wanted an easier to use application to capture and share videos. Boiman, a computer scientist that graduated from Tel Aviv University, followed with graduate work in computer vision at the Weizmann Institute of Science. Boiman developed several patent-pending image analysis technologies that analyze unedited videos to identify the most interesting parts.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.pcmag.com/news/why-wannabe-filmmakers-should-check-out-magisto | title=Why Wannabe Filmmakers Should Check Out Magisto | first=S.C. | last=Stuart | work=PC Magazine | date=September 23, 2016}}</ref> The system recognized faces, animals, landscapes, action sequences, movements and other important content within the video, as well as analyzing speech and audio. These scenes are then edited together, along with music and effects.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/magisto-automates-online-video-editing-for-you/ |title=Magisto automates online video editing for you |first=Laura |last=Locke | work=CNET |date=September 20, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | url=https://mashable.com/archive/magisto | title=Automated Video Editing Site Makes Movie Magic Out of Raw Footage | first=Jennifer | last=Van Grove | work=Mashable | date=September 20, 2011}}</ref>

Magisto was launched publicly on September 20, 2011, as a video editing software web application through which users could upload unedited video footage, choose a title and soundtrack and have their video edited for them automatically.<ref>{{Cite news | title=Magisto raises $5.5M for automatic video editing tool | url=https://techcrunch.com/2011/09/20/magisto-debuts-automatic-video-editing-tool-raises-5-5m-from-li-ka-shing-others/ | first=Robin | last=Wauters | work=TechCrunch | date=September 20, 2011}}</ref> On the following day, Magisto was added to YouTube Create's collection of video production applications.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://blog.youtube/news-and-events/additional-creator-tools-from-youtube/ | title=Additional Creator Tools from YouTube | first=Shenaz Zack | last=Mistry | work=YouTube | date=September 21, 2011}}</ref>

The Magisto iPhone app was launched publicly at the 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. At CES, the company was also awarded first place in the 2012 CES Mobile App Showdown.<ref name=magic/> In August 2012, Magisto launched the Android app on Google Play.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://techcrunch.com/2012/08/28/magisto-android/ | title=With More Than 1 Million iOS Users, Magisto Brings Its Mobile Video Editing App To Android Devices | first=Ryan | last=Lawler | work=TechCrunch | date=August 28, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite press release | url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/magisto-brings-its-magic-to-android-167661195.html | title=Magisto Brings Its Magic To Android | publisher=PR Newswire | date=August 28, 2012}}</ref> In September 2012, Magisto launched a Google Chrome App and announced Google Drive integration.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://techcrunch.com/2012/09/13/magisto-google-driv/ | title=Magisto Reveals Google Drive Integration For Its Automatic Video Editing Tool | first=Chris | last=Velazco | work=TechCrunch | date=September 13, 2012}}</ref>

In March 2013, Magisto claimed it had 5 million users.<ref>{{Cite press release | url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/magisto-hits-milestone-of-5-million-users-with-1-million-downloads-in-the-last-month-195839631.html | title=Magisto Hits Milestone of 5 Million Users With 1 Million Downloads in the Last Month | publisher=PR Newswire | date=March 7, 2013}}</ref> Google listed Magisto as an "Editors’ Choice" on its list of "Best Apps of 2013".<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.informationstash.com/create-and-edit-videos-for-your-android-smartphone-with-magisto/ | title=GadgetsCreate And Edit Videos For Your Android Smartphone With Magisto | first=Izunna | last=Okpala | work=Information Stash | date=April 25, 2014 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

In September 2013, the company claimed that 10 million users had downloaded the App.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://venturebeat.com/2013/09/19/with-10m-users-magistos-automatic-movie-maker-app-commands-the-ad-potential-of-a-cable-tv-show/ |title=With 10M users, Magisto's automatic moviemaker app commands the ad potential of a cable TV show | work=VentureBeat |last=Cheredar |first=Tom |date=September 19, 2013}}</ref>

In February 2014, Magisto claimed that they had 20 million users, with 2 million new users per month.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/magisto-continues-its-juggernaut-through-mobile-video-announces-investment-from-russian-internet-giant-mailru-group-doubles-registrants-to-20mm-users-246510241.html|title=Magisto Continues Its Juggernaut Through Mobile Video: Announces Investment From Russian Internet Giant Mail.Ru Group; Doubles Registrants To 20mm Users|date=February 21, 2014|website=PR Newswire}}</ref>

The company also confirmed investment from Mail.Ru.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/DJFVW00020140221ea2lb0kvm |last=Chapman |first=Lizette |title=Mail.Ru Backs Video-Editing Startup Magisto | work=The Wall Street Journal |date=21 February 2014 |url-access=subscription}}</ref>

In September 2014, Magisto rolled out a feature called 'Instagram Ready' which allowed users to upload 15 second clips that are automatically formatted for Instagram.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://thenextweb.com/apps/2014/09/10/magisto-android-now-helps-create-15-second-videos-share-instagram/ |title=Magisto for Android now lets you assemble 15-second videos to share on Instagram |last=Sawers | first=Paul | work=The Next Web | date=September 10, 2014}}</ref>

In the same month, Magisto launched a feature for iOS and Android users, called 'Surprise Me', which created video from still photography on users’ smartphones.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://thenextweb.com/news/magisto-android-now-helps-create-15-second-videos-share-instagram | title=Magisto for Android now lets you assemble 15-second videos to share on Instagram | first=Paul | last=Sawers | work=The Next Web | date=September 10, 2014}}</ref>

In October 2014, Magisto was placed 9th on the 2014 Deloitte Israel Technology Fast 50 list and named as a finalist in the Red Herring's Top 100 Europe award.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/magisto-leads-deloitte-israel-fast50-tech-ranking/ | title=Magisto leads Deloitte Israel Fast50 tech ranking | first=Shoshanna | last=Solomon | work=The Times of Israel | date=29 November 2016}}</ref>

In July 2015, Magisto released an editing theme dedicated to Jerry Garcia.<ref>{{Cite press release | url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/magisto-launches-jerry-garcia-editing-theme-to-commemorate-the-release-of-jerry-garcia-band--on-broadway-act-one-october-28th-1987-3cd-set-300107517.html | title=Magisto Launches Jerry Garcia Editing Theme To Commemorate The Release Of Jerry Garcia Band - On Broadway Act One: October 28th, 1987 3CD Set | publisher=PR Newswire | date=July 1, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/jerry-garcia-inspires-new-video-editing-program-fan-contest-20150702 |title=Jerry Garcia Inspires New Video-Editing Program, Fan Contest | first=Jon | last=Blistein | magazine=Rolling Stone | date=2 July 2015}}</ref>

In April 2019, the company was acquired by Vimeo, the IAC-owned platform for hosting, sharing and monetizing streamed video, for an estimated $200 million.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://variety.com/2019/digital/news/vimeo-acquires-magisto-1203189606/ | title=Vimeo Acquires Magisto, a Video-Creation Automation Company | first=Todd | last=Spangler | work=Variety | date=April 19, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | url=https://techcrunch.com/2019/04/15/vimeo-has-acquired-short-form-video-creation-platform-magisto/ | title=Vimeo has acquired short-form video-creation platform Magisto, reportedly for $200M | first=Ingrid | last=Lunden | work=TechCrunch | date=April 15, 2019}}</ref>

===Financing=== In 2011, the company received more than $5.5 million in a Series B venture round funding from Magma Venture Partners and Horizons Ventures.<ref>{{Cite press release | url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/magisto-turns-anybodys-unedited-video-footage-into-a-short-fun-movie-with-a-click-of-a-button-130184058.html | title=Magisto Turns Anybody's Unedited Video Footage Into a Short, Fun Movie With a Click of a Button | publisher=PR Newswire | date=September 20, 2011}}</ref>

In September 2011, at the same time as the public launch of their web application, Magisto announced a $5.5 million Series B funding round led by Li Ka-shing’s Horizons Ventures. Li Ka-Shing is known for making early-stage investments in companies like Facebook, Spotify, SecondMarket and Siri.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/parmyolson/2011/09/20/billionaire-li-ka-shing-sinks-5m-into-automatic-video-editor-magisto/ |title=Billionaire Li Ka-shing Sinks $5M Into Automatic Video Editor Magisto |last=Olson |first=Parmy | work=Forbes | date=September 20, 2011 | url-access=limited}}</ref>

In October 2013, the company received $13 million in funding from Qualcomm and Sandisk.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://venturebeat.com/entrepreneur/video-editing-startup-magisto-closes-13m-from-qualcomm-sandisk/ | title=Video editing startup Magisto closes $13M from Qualcomm & Sandisk | first=Tom | last=Cheredar | work=VentureBeat | date=October 29, 2013}}</ref>

In 2014, the company received $2 million in Venture Funding from Magma Venture Partners, Qualcomm Ventures, Horizons Ventures and the Mail.Ru Group.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-mobile-video-app-magisto-raises-2mglobes-correspondent-1000919168 | title=Mobile video app Magisto raises $2m | work=Globes | date=23 February 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | url=https://jewishbusinessnews.com/2014/02/23/israeli-magisto-raises-2-million-from-mail-ru-brings-video-editing-app-to-russias-facebook/ | title=Israeli Magisto Raises $2 Million From Mail.ru, Brings Video Editing App To Russia's Facebook | work=Jewish Business News | date=February 23, 2014}}</ref>

== Awards == * Magisto won first place at Technonomy3, an annual Internet Technology start-up competition in Israel. Judges of the competition included Jeff Pulver, TechCrunch editor Mike Butcher, investor Yaron Samid, Bessemer Venture Partners Israel partner Adam Fisher and Brad McCarty of The Next Web.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-1000636638 | title=Magisto wins 1st place at Techonomy3 | first=Noa | last=Parag | work=Globes | date=6 April 2011}}</ref> * Magisto won first place at CES 2012 Mobile app competition, during the launch of Magisto iOS mobile app.<ref name=magic>{{Cite news |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/tech-industry/magisto-is-magic-at-ces-mobile-apps-showdown/ |title=Magisto is magic at CES Mobile Apps Showdown | first=Jaymar | last=Cabebe | work=CNET | date=January 12, 2012}}</ref> * Magisto was awarded twice the Google Play Editor's Choice and was part of iPhone App Store Best App awards for 2013 and 2014, and Wired Essential iPad Apps.<ref>{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/2014/12/15-essential-ipad-apps/ |title=15 Essential Apps to Install on Your New iPad |last=Bonnington |first=Christina | magazine=WIRED | date=December 26, 2014}}</ref> * Magisto was declared by Deloitte as the 7th fastest growing company in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa in 2016.<ref>{{Cite press release | url=https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/global/Documents/Technology-Media-Telecommunications/deloitte-tech-fast-500-2016-press-release.pdf | title=Deloitte Global announces 2016 Technology Fast 500™ EMEA rankings | publisher=Deloitte | date=9 December 2016 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

Category:Defunct software companies of the United States Category:Film and video technology Category:Software architecture Category:Software companies disestablished in 2019 Category:Software companies established in 2009 Category:Video processing Category:Vimeo Magisto Category:Web development