ORLANDO, FL--(Marketwired - March 03, 2016) - IZEA, Inc. (IZEA), operators of IZEAx, the premier online marketplace connecting brands and publishers with influential content creators, today announced that its founder, chairman and CEO, Ted Murphy, will ring the Nasdaq opening bell on Friday, March 4, 2016.
The bell ringing commemorates the listing of IZEA shares, which first began trading on Nasdaq on February 26, 2016. Shares of IZEA may be purchased and sold by individual investors, financial advisors and institutions.
"We are honored to ring the Nasdaq Opening Bell," said Murphy. "We do so on behalf of our team members, our investors and the community of brands and creators we serve. This historic event commemorates the hard work and dedication of the entire IZEA team, and is a reflection of the creativity, passion and drive they bring to this company every day."
Murphy will ring the opening bell at 9:30 a.m. ET and will be joined by other IZEA executives, team members and board members. The event will be broadcast live from the Nasdaq MarketSite in New York City, starting at 9:15 a.m. ET and viewable online at https://new.livestream.com/nasdaq/live.
IZEA was founded in 2006 and developed the first marketplace to connect brands with influential online content creators. Murphy is credited with inventing the concept of Sponsored Social, a marketing practice whereby bloggers, Tweeters, YouTubers and other influential individuals are compensated for creating content for brands and sharing it with their followers.
Today, the company operates its global exchange, IZEAx, with users in more than 150 countries and has completed over 3.5 million transactions. The network of buyers and sellers includes Fortune 500 brands, celebrities, notable personalities and publishers. Major advertising agencies and media companies license "white label" versions of IZEAx to power their influencers and content marketing efforts. The company experienced significant growth in 2015, with bookings up 171 percent year-over-year to a record $24.5 million.
"The creator economy has ushered a new era of opportunity for the people who inspire, educate, and entertain us online," said Murphy. "We are proud to 'Champion the Creators' in everything IZEA does, and look forward to our continued growth together."
About IZEA
IZEA operates IZEAx, the premier online marketplace that connects brands with influential content creators. IZEA creators range from leading bloggers and social media personalities to A-List celebrities and professional journalists. Creators are compensated for developing and distributing unique content on behalf of brands including long form text, videos, photos and status updates. Brands receive influential consumer content and engaging, shareable stories that drive awareness. For more information about IZEA, visit www.corp.izea.com.