CLOSED
GET A PIECE OF BOOKSNIFFER INC.
BookSniffer is a new mobile and web-based platform which brings readers and authors together in a whole new way. Built on next-generation technologies and with more than 1,600 registered authors on the platform to date, we believe BookSniffer is poised to become a new leader in the book marketing industry.
Launched in 2020, BookSniffer has begun generating revenue as of October 31, 2020, with 1,600+ authors using the platform.
The mobile app market, currently worth $154 billion, is expected to continue growing at a CAGR of 11.5% through 2027.
Within the book market, which is worth $122 billion, more and more authors are publishing independently, changing the landscape of the book marketing industry as a whole.
Overview
BookSniffer provides an affordable solution to authors and publishers looking to market their works. Readers using the app are able to discover and fall in love with new writers every day, and writers are able to advertise and reach fans on their own terms and within their own budgets.
Our recently released app, available for iOS and Android, already has an impressive average rating of 4.6 stars, with 1,600 authors and more than 3 million books on our platform. In a growing, $154 billion mobile app market, we believe we’re already off to a great start.
The Problem
More and more authors have chosen the self-publishing route in recent years. This seismic shift has turned the industry on its head. According to Bowker, over 1.6 million books were self published in the US in 2018 (source).
Working writers- whether self- or traditionally-published - are an extraordinarily resilient bunch. Yet, these steely authors are facing exorbitant and rising marketing costs. This state of affairs puts the newest authors, with the least financial resources, at a major visibility disadvantage.
The Solution
BookSniffer helps indie authors and publishers alike reach rabid readers at a reasonable cost—and helps book lovers discover new voices on a safe, fun, next-generation platform.
The Market
BookSniffer operates at the intersection of two major global industries: the $154 billion mobile app market (source), which is expected to grow at a CAGR of 11.5% through 2027 (source), and the $122 billion book market (source), which comprises more and more indie authors.
There are 45,000+ authors in the U.S. market today (source). Over 1.6 million books were self-published in 2018 (source), and the number of ebooks sold and published by independent and small-press authors has already overtaken the number of ebooks sold and published by Big 5 publishers (source).
Our Traction
In October of 2020, BookSniffer opened the castle gates and offered a limited Beta version of its sponsorship products. Within 30 days, BookSniffer generated nearly $30,000 in sales on a shoestring marketing budget.
BookSniffer recently rolled out an updated version of its .com website, and is in active development of new features for its iOS and Android applications.
Traction with authors:
Technical milestones include:
An advanced, proprietary, next-generation book search engine
Over 3 million titles on our platform, including the latest bestsellers
Technologies to index millions of additional books per month in the coming months
Direct author-to-reader messaging
A proprietary book memes and quotes engine to allow readers to share fun and meaningful content
Advanced graphical library builder, designed for readers to share their favorite reads with friends and family
An advanced authors portal, with self-serve tools where authors and publishers can purchase advertising on the BookSniffer platform
Easy-to-use tools for authors, including AdMakerMcAdmakerFace, a free tool helping authors make attractive book ads they can use anywhere
KeywordThingy, a product to help authors find and identify thousands of advertising keywords, customized to their titles, with just a few clicks
Hundreds upon hundreds custom server-side applications to enable the above, many of which we believe may be patentable
What We Do
Authors on BookSniffer can:
Create custom book landing pages to display books and link to social media
Send messages, news and deals to fans and followers
Create book ads using our AdMakerMcAdmakerFace tool
Build lists of thousands of relevant keywords for advertising using our KeywordThingy tool (in Beta)
Purchase reasonably priced Sponsorships to display books more prominently on shelves and in keyword searches (in development)
Readers can:
Access book deals we’ve collected from across the web
Build and share custom virtual libraries
Rate books within our proprietary BookSCAPE system, which allows ratings based on Story, Characters, Action, Prose and even Editing
Follow authors to get news about their latest releases, as well as direct messages with exclusive content
Search for books using a super advanced search engine
Host private book discussions and clubs (coming soon)
gif
The Business Model
BookSniffer generates advertising and subscription-based revenues from independent and self-published authors, ad agencies, and publishers.
BookSniffer attracts readers through its advertising and referral programs.
How We Are Different
Goodreads, a social media network with approximately 90 million users (source), provides shelving and other search and organization features similar to BookSniffer. However, after being purchased by Amazon, Goodreads no longer offers self-serve advertising, and authors aren’t able to connect directly with readers.
Another popular platform, BookBub, a book deals newsletter and marketing platform with approximately 15 million users (source), rejects more than 80% of applicants for featured placement due to low availability (source).
BookSniffer has lots of space, and we don’t require bidding wars for our authors to access it.
Platforms like Amazon suggest per-click bid prices as high as $2 or more for some keywords. This is because they use an auction-based system, where the highest bidder gets the most visibility. You can’t sell a 99c book at $2 per click. It’s unsustainable, and it doesn’t only hurt authors – it also hurts the readers out there who want to find new voices. If new authors can’t afford to advertise, readers won’t know they exist. The only winner in this scenario, with an ever-increasing “slice of the pie”, is the platform - and in some cases, the cost of the click exceeds the price of the pie.
BookSniffer has a better approach.
BookSniffer offers fixed-bid advertising. That’s right - no highest bidder auctions. Right now, in 2021, our maximum cost per click is 18 cents flat – and sometimes lower.
The Vision
We believe BookSniffer has the opportunity to solve a major industry challenge: making room for new authors while creating fair and affordable advertising opportunities for authors at any stage in their career.
Although we expect to appeal initially to indie authors and small-press publishers during our product launch cycles, we believe that as our platform, user base, and potential marketing reach grow, our advertising products become viable to the broader market while maintaining our ability to serve new and emerging voices.
OUR LEADERSHIP
BookSniffer is proud to be a diverse, majority-woman-owned company, composed of individuals who have been successful in various industries. Our Board of Directors is made up of authors who have worked together to slay the book marketing dragon.
We've also been fortunate to attract a brain trust of brilliant minds from the technology, legal, and finance industries who have helped bring our mission to life.
On the marketing side, we’re excited to partner in 2021 with Harmon Brothers, makers of some of the world’s most vibrant and viral video ads, such as SquattyPotty, Purple Mattress, and Lumè Deodorant.
Why Invest
The power in the book business is largely concentrated in the hands of a few behemoths, at the detriment of the hard-working, talented authors who bring fantastic stories to life, who educate, who inspire, who thrill and entertain.
We hope you'll join us in our author-and-reader powered revolution.
BookSniffer is a new mobile and web-based platform which brings readers and authors together in a whole new way. Built on next-generation technologies and with more than 1,600 registered authors on the platform to date, we believe BookSniffer is poised to become a new leader in the book marketing industry.
Eric's primary occupation is being an author. He works approximately 10 hours per week for BookSniffer Inc.
Janice's primary occupation being an author. She works approximately 10 hour per week for BookSniffer Inc.
Angela's primary occupation is being an author. She works approximately 10 hours per week for BookSniffer Inc.
John's primary occupation is being a business manager. He works approximately 30 hours per week for BookSniffer Inc.
Meg's primary occupation is being an author. She works approximately 10 hours per week for BookSniffer Inc.
Melinda's primary occupation is being an author. She works approximately 10 hours per week at BookSniffer Inc.
Maximum Number of Shares Offered subject to adjustment for bonus shares
*Maximum Number of Shares Offered subject to adjustment for bonus shares. See bonus info below.
COVID Relief
This offering is being conducted on an expedited basis due to circumstances relating to COVID-19 and pursuant to the SEC’s temporary COVID-19 regulatory relief set out in Regulation Crowdfunding §227.201(z).
Offering maximum.
In reliance on this relief, financial information certified by the principal executive officer of the issuer has been provided instead of financial statements reviewed by a public accountant that is independent of the issuer, in setting the offering maximum of $250,000.
Expedited closing sooner than 21 days.
Further, in reliance on Regulation Crowdfunding §227.303(g)(2) A funding portal that is an intermediary in a transaction involving the offer or sale of securities initiated between May 4, 2020, and February 28, 2021, in reliance on section 4(a)(6) of the Securities Act (15 U.S.C. 77d(a)(6)) by an issuer that is conducting an offering on an expedited basis due to circumstances relating to COVID-19 shall not be required to comply with the requirement in paragraph (e)(3)(i) of this section that a funding portal not direct a transmission of funds earlier than 21 days after the date on which the intermediary makes publicly available on its platform the information required to be provided by the issuer under §§227.201 and 227.203(a).
Investment Incentives and Bonuses
Early Bird*
Friends and Family - First 72 hours I 15% bonus shares
Super Early Bird - Next 72 hours I 10% bonus
Early Bird Bonus - Next 7 days I 5% bonus shares
Volume*
Tier 1 perk - ($1000 +) Advertising credit of $1,000
Tier 2 perk - ($5,000+) 110% value in advertising credit on the platform
Tier 3 perk- ($10,000+) perk 2 + 5% bonus shares
Tier 4 perk - ($25,000+) perk 2 + 10% bonus shares
The 10% StartEngine Owners' Bonus
BookSniffer Inc. will offer 10% additional bonus shares for all investments that are committed by investors that are eligible for the StartEngine Crowdfunding Inc. Owner's bonus.
This means eligible StartEngine shareholders will receive a 10% bonus for any shares they purchase in this offering. For example, if you buy 100 shares of Series B Common Stock at $0.36 / share, you will receive 110 shares of Series B Common Stock, meaning you'll own 110 shares for $36. Fractional shares will not be distributed and share bonuses will be determined by rounding down to the nearest whole share.
This 10% Bonus is only valid during the investors eligibility period. Investors eligible for this bonus will also have priority if they are on a waitlist to invest and the Company surpasses its maximum funding goal. They will have the first opportunity to invest should room in the offering become available if prior investments are cancelled or fail.
Investors will only receive a single bonus, which will be the highest bonus rate they are eligible for.
*Investors participating in both the Early Purchase Bonus and the Volume Bonus may claim the greater of either bonus, not to exceed 15% in total.
Bonuses will be computed based on each purchase transaction. If an investor makes purchases of our stock in different transactions the bonus will be computed on each purchase meaning that the amounts from different pw·chases will not be aggregated to calculate bonus tiers. Investors are suggested to, if possible, purchase your shares in one transaction as soon as possible.
Fractional shares will not be distributed and share bonuses will be determined by rounding down to the nearest whole share.
Any advertising credits received when purchasing our stock will have no cash value and will be nontransferable. All advertising credits will expire two years from the date of your stock purchase. All advertising credits will be used at BookSniffer's then applicable advertising pricing and will be subject to BookSniffer's advertising standards at the time the advertising is run. Advertising pricing and advertising standards may be changed from time to time with no notice to you.
For an example of bonus calculation, if you bll.ly 100 shares of Series B Common Stock at $0.36 I share during the second 72 hours of our Early Purchase Bonus, you will receive 110 shares of Series B Common Stock, meaning you'll own 110 shares for $36. If you make a second purchase later, your bonus will be computed on the shares you purchased in that transaction with no regard to your earlier purchase.
Irregular Use of Proceeds
Example - The Company might incur Irregular Use of Proceeds that may include but are not limited to the following over $10,000: Vendor payments and salary made to one's self, a friend or relative; Any expense labeled "Administration Expenses" that is not strictly for administrative purposes; Any expense labeled "Travel and Entertainment"; Any expense that is for the purposes of inter-company debt or back payments.
Owner’s Bonus
Owner’s Bonus Members earn 10% bonus shares on top of this and all eligible investments for an entire year. Not a member? Sign up at checkout ($275/year).
0/2500
2 years ago
2
0
3 years ago
1
0
3 years ago
0
0
3 years ago
0
0
3 years ago
1
0
3 years ago
0
0
3 years ago
1
0
3 years ago
1
0
3 years ago
1
0
Cancel anytime before 48 hours before a rolling close or the offering end date.
We want you to succeed and get the most out of your money by offering rewards and memberships!
Your info is your info. We take pride in keeping it that way!
Invest in over 200 start-ups and collectibles!
With Regulation A+, a non-accredited investor can only invest a maximum of 10% of their annual income or 10% of their net worth per year, whichever is greater. There are no restrictions for accredited investors.
With Regulation Crowdfunding, non-accredited investors with an annual income or net worth less than $124,000, are limited to invest a maximum of 5% of the greater of those two amounts. For those with an annual income and net worth greater than $124,000, he/she is limited to investing 10% of the greater of the two amounts.
At the close of an offering, all investors whose funds have “cleared” by this time will be included in the disbursement. At this time, each investor will receive an email from StartEngine with their Countersigned Subscription Agreement, which will serve as their proof of purchase moving forward.
Please keep in mind that a company can conduct a series of “closes” or withdrawals of funds throughout the duration of the campaign. If you are included in that withdrawal period, you will be emailed your countersigned subscription agreement and proof of purchase immediately following that withdrawal.
StartEngine assists companies in raising capital, and once the offering is closed, we are no longer involved with whether the company chooses to list shares on a secondary market, or what occurs thereafter. Therefore, StartEngine has no control or insight into your investment after the close of the live offering. In addition, we are not permitted to provide financial advice. You may want to contact a financial professional to discuss possible investment outcomes.
For Regulation Crowdfunding, investors are able to cancel their investment at any point throughout the campaign up until 48 hours before the closing of the offering. Note: If the company does a rolling close, they will post an update to their current investors, giving them the opportunity to cancel during this timeframe. If you do not cancel within this 5-day timeframe, your funds will be invested in the company, and you will no longer be able to cancel the investment. If your funds show as ‘Invested’ on your account dashboard, your investment can no longer be canceled.
For Regulation A+, StartEngine allows for a four-hour cancelation period. Once the four-hour window has passed, it is up to each company to set their own cancelation policy. You may find the company’s cancelation policy in the company’s offering circular.
Once your investment is canceled, there is a 10-day clearing period (from the date your investment was submitted). After your funds have cleared the bank, you will receive your refund within 10 business days.
Refunds that are made through ACH payments can take up to 10 business days to clear. Unfortunately, we are at the mercy of the bank, but we will do everything we can to get you your refund as soon as possible. However, every investment needs to go through the clearing process in order to get sent back to the account associated with the investment.
Both Title III (Regulation Crowdfunding) and Title IV (Reg A+) help entrepreneurs crowdfund capital investments from unaccredited and accredited investors. The differences between these regulations are related to the investor limitations, the differing amounts of money companies are permitted to raise, and differing disclosure and filing requirements. To learn more about Regulation Crowdfunding, click here, and for Regulation A+, click here.
Important Message
IN MAKING AN INVESTMENT DECISION, INVESTORS MUST RELY ON THEIR OWN EXAMINATION OF THE ISSUER AND THE TERMS OF THE OFFERING, INCLUDING THE MERITS AND RISKS INVOLVED. INVESTMENTS ON STARTENGINE ARE SPECULATIVE, ILLIQUID, AND INVOLVE A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK, INCLUDING THE POSSIBLE LOSS OF YOUR ENTIRE INVESTMENT.
www.StartEngine.com is a website owned and operated by StartEngine Crowdfunding, Inc. (“StartEngine”), which is neither a registered broker-dealer, investment advisor nor funding portal.Unless indicated otherwise with respect to a particular issuer, all securities-related activity is conducted by regulated affiliates of StartEngine: StartEngine Capital, LLC, a funding portal registered here with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and here as a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), or StartEngine Primary, LLC, a broker-dealer registered with the SEC and FINRA / SIPC . You can review the background of our broker-dealer and our investment professionals on FINRA’s BrokerCheck here. StartEngine Secondary is an alternative trading system regulated by the SEC and operated by StartEngine Primary, LLC, a broker dealer registered with the SEC and FINRA. StartEngine Primary, LLC is a member of SIPC and explanatory brochures are available upon request by contacting SIPC at (202) 371-8300.Investment opportunities posted and accessible through the site are of three types:
1) Regulation A offerings (JOBS Act Title IV; known as Regulation A+), which are offered to non-accredited and accredited investors alike. These offerings are made through StartEngine Primary, LLC (unless otherwise indicated). 2) Regulation D offerings (Rule 506(c)), which are offered only to accredited investors. These offerings are made through StartEngine Primary, LLC. 3) Regulation Crowdfunding offerings (JOBS Act Title III), which are offered to non-accredited and accredited investors alike. These offerings are made through StartEngine Capital, LLC. Some of these offerings are open to the general public, however there are important differences and risks.
Any securities offered on this website have not been recommended or approved by any federal or state securities commission or regulatory authority. StartEngine and its affiliates do not provide any investment advice or recommendation and do not provide any legal or tax advice with respect to any securities. All securities listed on this site are being offered by, and all information included on this site is the responsibility of, the applicable issuer of such securities. StartEngine does not verify the adequacy, accuracy or completeness of any information. Neither StartEngine nor any of its officers, directors, agents and employees makes any warranty, express or implied, of any kind whatsoever related to the adequacy, accuracy, or completeness of any information on this site or the use of information on this site. See additional general disclosures here.By accessing this site and any pages on this site, you agree to be bound by our Terms of use and Privacy Policy, as may be amended from time to time without notice or liability.Canadian Investors Investment opportunities posted and accessible through the site will not be offered to Canadian resident investors. Potential investors are strongly advised to consult their legal, tax and financial advisors before investing. The securities offered on this site are not offered in jurisdictions where public solicitation for offerings is not permitted; it is solely your responsibility to comply with the laws and regulations of your country of residence.
California Investors Only – Do Not Sell My Personal Information(800-317-2200). StartEngine does not sell personal information. For all customer inquiries, please write to contact@startengine.com.
StartEngine’s Reg A+ offering is made available through StartEngine Crowdfunding, Inc. This investment is speculative, illiquid, and involves a high degree of risk, including the possible loss of your entire investment. For more information about this offering, please view StartEngine’s offering circular and risk associated with this offering.StartEngine Marketplace
The availability of company information does not indicate that the company has endorsed, supports, or otherwise participates with StartEngine.
None of the information displayed on or downloadable from www.startengine.com (the any security. It also does not constitute an offer to provide investment advice or service. any security. It also does not constitute an offer to provide investment advice or service. any security. It also does not constitute an offer to provide investment advice or service. StartEngine does not (1) make any recommendations or otherwise advise on the merits or advisability of a particular investment or transaction, or (2) assist in the determination of fair value of any security or investment, or (3) provide legal, tax, or transactional advisory services.
All investment opportunities are based on indicated interest from sellers and will need to be confirmed.
Investing in private company securities is not suitable for all investors. An investment in private company securities is highly speculative and involves a high degree of risk. It should only be considered a long-term investment. You must be prepared to withstand a total loss of your investment. Private company securities are also highly illiquid, and there is no guarantee that a market will develop for such securities. Each investment also carries its own specific risks, and you should complete your own independent due diligence regarding the investment. This includes obtaining additional information about the company, opinions, financial projections, and legal or other investment advice. Accordingly, investing in private company securities is appropriate only for those investors who can tolerate a high degree of risk and do not require a liquid investment.
StartEngine Marketplace (“SE Marketplace”) is a website operated by StartEngine Primary, LLC (“SE Primary”), a broker-dealer that is registered with the SEC and a member of FINRA and the SIPC. (“SE Marketplace”) is a website operated by StartEngine Primary, LLC (“SE Primary”), a broker-dealer that is registered with the SEC and a member of FINRA and the SIPC. (“SE Marketplace”) is a website operated by StartEngine Primary, LLC (“SE Primary”), a broker-dealer that is registered with the SEC and a member of FINRA and the SIPC.
Andrew Brickson
2 years ago
Any update?
0
1