SA journalism network Hashtag Our Stories lands $150k from Snapchat

SA mobile journalism network Hashtag Our Stories has netted $150 000 in funding from struggling social media Snapchat and a place in the US tech company’s startup accelerator Yellow.

The year-old Durban-founded network is run by former social media reporter at CNN, Yusuf Omar (pictured above) and his wife Sumaiya.

Techcrunch reported yesterday that the network has been accepted into the accelerator’s first class of nine companies. Hashtag Our Stories is the only non-US participant.

Hashtag Our Stories has netted $150 000 in funding from Snapchat and a place in its three-month accelerator Yellow

The US tech publication reported that apart from the funding the accelerator will offer business support and a three-month residency in Venice, California, near Los Angeles — for what a source says is a seven to 10 percent equity stake.

Hashtag Our Stories claims to have helped 200 citizen storytellers in over 40 countries to produce videos with their phones.

Ventureburn sought comment from Sumaiya and Yusuf Omar, but they were not immediately available.

Featured image: Hashtag Our Stories co-founder Yusuf Omar pictured Global Festival of Action for Sustainable Development earlier this year (Facebook)