Etsy founder announces investment, shares story of Swimmy

Posted by Rob Walker on January 30, 2008
Posted Under: DIYism

Rob Kalin, CEO of Etsy, which was a key feature of the Handmade 2.0 story I did for the NYT Mag in December, writes here that the company has taken a $27 million investment from two of its current backers. He says Etsy is almost breaking even; explains why it needs the investment; and mentions the long-range plan of going public.

But if you read the Handmade 2.0 story, you might be particularly interested in the accompanying video. You may recall that the article recounted Kalin explaining Etsy to me by reading me a children’s book. Well, now you can have the same experience! Or a virtual equivalent. Click through to hear the story of Swimmy.

Update 1/31: VentureBeat links to a quite good story from Tech Confidential on Etsy’s financing. I didn’t get into any of this stuff in the Handmade 2.0 story, but everything here pretty much lines up with what Kalin said to me about that side of things. Moreover, there are a number of nice details that were news to me. (Example: “He got his first Web design job without admitting he had no experience. (The Web site he created for Manhattan pub Acme Bar and Grill is still up today.)”) So if the biz side of Etsy is of interest to you — and actually, if the general subject of VCs and company funding interests you — check it out.

Further diversion may be found at MKTG Tumblr, and the Consumed Facebook page.

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