Vook
The business, the turning points, and the decisions behind them.
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Sections to complete：02 · 05
01 / WHAT IT BUILT
What the company did
Vook, launched in 2009, was a digital publishing startup whose name blended 'video' and 'book.' It began as a publisher of enhanced e-books that paired text with embedded video clips and social features, listing 57 titles in the iBookstore and signing authors including Anne Rice. In 2011 it stopped publishing its own content and pivoted to running a digital publishing and distribution platform for other authors and publishers, acquiring Booklr and Coliloquy in 2014 before rebranding as Pronoun.
02 / FAILURE REASONS
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03 / EVENT HISTORY
Events in the structured record
- Launch
Vook launches as an enhanced e-book publisher, combining text with video clips and social integration on iPad, iPhone, Kindle and PC.
- Series A
The company closes a $5.25 million Series A round led by VantagePoint Venture Partners and Floodgate.
- Pivot to platform
Vook stops publishing content and shifts to operating a digital publishing platform for other authors and publishers.
- Acquisitions
Vook acquires Booklr and, a few months later, Coliloquy.
- Rebrand
The company rebrands from Vook to Pronoun.
- Acquired by Macmillan
Publisher Macmillan acquires Pronoun (formerly Vook); the company continues as a Macmillan subsidiary, with its CEO becoming President and its CPO becoming VP of Product.
04 / CONTEMPORARY REBUILD ASSESSMENT
Difficulty of rebuilding this project today
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Overall assessment: Not completed
05 / CAUSAL CHAIN / AFTERMATH
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