Gush Ad
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Gush Ad is an online social media marketing and advertising platform owned by Gushcloud International.
It is based in Singapore, but also holds offices in San Francisco, Malaysia, and Indonesia.{{Cite web |title=Singapore-based Gushcloud Launches Office in SF, Eyes Indonesia |url=http://www.techinasia.com/gushcloud-us-indonesia/ |access-date=2020-11-12}}Techinasia - Singapore-based Gushcloud launches office in San Francisco Gush Ad is owned by Gushcloud Pvt Ltd, and is resold by Gushcloud INC in the US and TBG Interactive SDN BHD in Malaysia and PT. Media Awan Digital Indonesia in Indonesia. Gush Ad was recently inducted into the Founder Showcase Hall of Fame as one of two Singaporean-founded companies that had achieved significant business milestones.{{Cite web |title=HALL OF FAME |url=http://foundershowcase.com/about-2/hall-of-fame/}}Founder Showcase - Hall of Fame
In March 2015, it was revealed that the company had been engaged by a client to conduct a smear campaign campaign against its competitors, leading to backlash against the Gush and its client.{{Cite web |title=Bloggers cut ties, clients clarify relationship with Gushcloud |url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/bloggers-cut-ties-clients/1728834.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150322192741/http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/bloggers-cut-ties-clients/1728834.html |archive-date=2015-03-22 |access-date=2015-03-22}}
History
Launched officially on 10 February 2012, Gushcloud was founded by Vincent Ha and Althea Lim, who also previously co-founded The Barnett Group, a boutique digital agency in Singapore.{{Cite web |title=Althea Lim of Gushcloud is the budding architect of the "Hollywood of Asia" |url=https://www.gushcloud.com/post/althea-lim-of-gushcloud-is-the-budding-architect-of-the-hollywood-of-asia |access-date=2023-12-18 |website=www.gushcloud.com}}
Gushcloud 1.0
Gush Ad, which was originally named Gushcloud, had registered users (known as Gushers) earn GC$ (Gushcloud Dollars) by completing tasks on the Gushcloud platform which could then be cashed out for real money via internet banking or PayPal, or donated to charity.{{Cite web |last=Yeo |first=Joanna |date=2012-01-02 |title=Get rewarded by promoting your favorite brands and products with Gushcloud |url=https://e27.co/get-rewarded-by-promoting-your-favorite-brands-and-products-with-gushcloud/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107222556/https://e27.co/get-rewarded-by-promoting-your-favorite-brands-and-products-with-gushcloud/ |archive-date=2017-11-07 |access-date=2017-11-07 |website=e27.co}}{{Cite web |title=New Service Pays Users For Tweeting |url=http://marketing-interactive.com/news/29815 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111203194530/http://marketing-interactive.com/news/29815 |archive-date=3 December 2011 |access-date=2020-11-12}} Users could also earn Karma Points by completing similar tasks for additional bonuses on the platform, however, this feature was phased out early in its introduction and was not available in Gushcloud 1.5.
A mobile app for Gushcloud 1.5 was available for download in the Apple Store with features similar to that of the website.{{Cite web |title=Gushcloud launches iPhone app, allow users to share their mood on the go |url=http://e27.co/2012/09/20/gushcloud-launches-iphone-app-allow-users-to-share-their-mood-on-the-go/}}
The Social Sentiment Network proved to be ahead of its time for Asia{{citation needed|date=June 2023}}, with traction for the Rewards Platform outpacing that for the Social Sentiment Network.{{citation needed|date=June 2023}} The company concluded that the Rewards Platform was more appealing to its predominantly Asia-based users{{citation needed|date=June 2023}}, hence the decision to focus its development and resources on the Rewards Platform.{{citation needed|date=June 2023}} The Social Sentiment Network, Gushcloud.com, is still currently being built, till indefinite notice. The Rewards Platform was rebranded to its existing name today, Gush Ad.{{citation needed|date=June 2023}}
Gush Ad was launched on 23 October 2012 as the social advertising platform that incentivized consumers to interact with advertisements. An interaction could refer to completing surveys, sharing messages, or referring products to friends on social networks such as Twitter through engagement in rewarded advertising tasks. It also saw the fresh conceptualization of a Gush Wallet for advertising credits to be accumulated, where users could earn virtual dollars from campaigns, spend their earnings on the redemption store, or cash out for real money via PayPal or internet banking.
Users sign up for an account using their email addresses or their Twitter. It will thereafter be necessary for them to link their Gush Ad account together with their Twitter account to complete Twitter tasks prevalent on the platform.
Accolades and mentions
Gushcloud was the only Singaporean team that made it to top 10 of the 8th Founder Showcase international pitch competition, coming 2nd place, in terms of Judges scores and 3rd place Overall.{{Cite web|url=https://e27.co/get-rewarded-by-promoting-your-favorite-brands-and-products-with-gushcloud/|title=Get rewarded by promoting your favorite brands and products with Gushcloud|first=Joanna|last=Yeo|website=e27}} It has also recently been inducted into Founder Showcase Hall of Fame{{Cite web |title=Founder Showcase Alumni Surpass $70mm Raised, Plus New Hall of Famers |url=http://foundershowcase.com/founder-showcase-alumni-surpass-70-million-raised-plus-newest-hall-of-fame-inductees/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130304151836/http://foundershowcase.com/founder-showcase-alumni-surpass-70-million-raised-plus-newest-hall-of-fame-inductees/ |archive-date=4 March 2013 |access-date=2020-11-12}} {{En dash}} an honor reserved for companies that have gone on to achieve “significant business milestones after the event whether by raising funding, building a great business, or disrupting an industry”. Gushcloud was also named as one of five startups to look out for in Vision Wiz’s coverage of Founder Showcase.{{Cite web |title=Top 5: Startups From Silicon Valley Based Event (Founder ShowCase) |url=http://visionwiz.net/2011/11/top-5-startups-from-silicon-valley-based-event-founder-showcase/ }}VisionWiZ - Top 5 startups
Gushcloud was also voted “Most Promising Startup” in I-S Magazine’s Reader’s Choice Awards{{Cite web|url=https://bk.asia-city.com/city-living/article/i-s-readers-choice-awards-2012|title=I-S Readers' Choice Awards 2012|date=May 17, 2012|website=bk.asia-city.com}} in May 2012 and was also the only Asian top 20 finalist in Global Mobile Internet Conference (GMIC) Silicon Valley app Attack 2012.{{Cite web |title=StartMeApp Congratulates appAttack Mobile Application Winners, Finalists at Global Mobile Internet Conference - Silicon Valley |url=https://www.prweb.com/releases/startmeapp/gmic-svappattack/prweb10038595.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025013127/http://www.prweb.com/releases/StartMeApp/GMIC-SVappAttack/prweb10038595.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 25, 2012 |access-date=2020-11-12}} Its marketing campaign for Air France KLM under Gush Ad garnered another nod as finalist in Marketing Magazine Marketing Excellence Awards 2012 (Singapore) in the category of Excellence in Social Media Marketing.{{Cite web |title=Marketing magazine's MARKETING EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2012, Singapore |url=http://mea-awards.com/SG/finalists.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121115094712/http://mea-awards.com/SG/finalists.html |archive-date=15 November 2012}}
Gush Ad was also featured in various state newspapers such as The Straits Times & Business Times.{{Cite web |title=A PASSIONATE ENTREPRENEUR WITH LOFTY AIMS |url=https://www.smu.edu.sg/sites/default/files/smu/news_room/smu_in_the_news/2012/sources/BT_20121001_1.pdf }}The Business Times - A passionate entrepreneur with lofty aims – Vincent Ha (Gushcloud)
Finances
= Funding =
Gushcloud closed a seed round in February 2012 from F&H Holdings. F&H Holdings is co-founded and chaired by Mr John Wu who was previously the Chief Technology Officer of Alibaba Group and part of the key management team of Yahoo! Inc.{{Cite web|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/gushcloud-raises-seed-funding-singhome-042235719.html|title=Gushcloud Raises Seed Funding from Singhome Fund|website=finance.yahoo.com|date=3 March 2012 }}
Smear Campaign against [[M1 Limited|M1]] and [[Starhub]]
In March 2015, it was reported that the previous year in June 2014, a Gushcloud account executive had instructed its influencers to launch a smear campaign against Singapore telecommunication companies M1 and Starhub, on behalf its client SingTel, in return for rewards linked to SingTel's offerings as part of its "Digital Youth" campaign.{{Cite web |last=Tan |first=Emily |title=When agencies sin in a client's name: Singtel & Gushcloud |url=https://www.prweek.com/article/1338736 |website=www.prweek.com}} Initially covered by Singapore blogger Xiaxue's blog, the report was picked up by mainstream media.{{Cite web |title=It all started with an anonymous e-mail |date=22 March 2015 |url=https://www.asiaone.com/singapore/it-all-started-anonymous-e-mail |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150324141035/http://news.asiaone.com/news/singapore/it-all-started-anonymous-e-mail |archive-date=2015-03-24 |access-date=2015-03-22}} A leaked email containing the instructions was confirmed by statements from both Singtel and Gushcloud. M1 and StarHub have appealed to the Infocom Development Authority of Singapore, the authority overseeing the telco industry in Singapore, to investigate these allegations.{{Cite web |title=M1, StarHub ask IDA to probe allegations of smear campaign |url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/m1-starhub-ask-ida-to/1719110.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150319234115/http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/m1-starhub-ask-ida-to/1719110.html |archive-date=2015-03-19 |access-date=2015-03-22}} They are also mulling possible legal actions against SingTel.{{Cite web |title=M1 and StarHub mull further action against Singtel for Gushcloud negative ad campaign |url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/business/singapore/m1-and-starhub-mull/1726210.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150322192731/http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/business/singapore/m1-and-starhub-mull/1726210.html |archive-date=2015-03-22 |access-date=2015-03-22}} SingTel terminated its relationship with Gushcloud and apologized to M1 and Star hub for the campaign.{{Cite news |title=Singtel Group CEO apologises to M1, StarHub for 'negative' campaign |url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/singtel-group-ceo/1727434.html |url-status=dead |access-date=2015-03-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150322185404/http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/singtel-group-ceo/1727434.html |archive-date=2015-03-22}}{{Cite web |title=Singtel ends relationship with Gushcloud, apologises to StarHub, M1 |url=https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/singtel-terminates-services-gushcloud-employee-involved-no-longer-them |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190515013750/https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/singtel-terminates-services-gushcloud-employee-involved-no-longer-them |archive-date=2019-05-15 |access-date=2019-05-15 |website=TODAYonline}} Gushcloud also apologized to all three telcos for its actions.{{Cite web |date=March 21, 2015 |title=Gushcloud apologises for Singtel campaign, says it is auditing practices |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/gushcloud-apologises-for-singtel-campaign-says-it-is-auditing-practices |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190515013749/https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/gushcloud-apologises-for-singtel-campaign-says-it-is-auditing-practices |archive-date=May 15, 2019 |access-date=May 15, 2019 |website=The Straits Times}} Some of Gushcloud's clients, such as Microsoft and Zalora, have clarified their working relationship with GushCloud, and Gushcloud has removed its list of clients from its website. Some of the bloggers and influencers have distanced themselves from Gushcloud, and even left the network altogether. At least two bloggers have also apologized for their involvement in the negative campaign, but maintained that their negative feedback regarding Starhub and M1 were genuine.