KUALA LUMPUR, Singapore-based publishers focussed startup Crackle Technologies has raised a US$1.7 million pre-seed round to build artificial intelligence (AI)-based products tailored for publishers, maximising their adtech earnings. (US$1=RM4.32) The round is led by We Founder Circle and AC Ventures with participation from other investors, including founders of Impetus Technologies, Sunicon Ventures, Global DeVC and Misfits Capital. It also attracted investment from founders of prominent publishers like Ludo King, Dainik Jagran and Amar Ujala and others who have bestowed their faith in the Crackle team. According to Crackle in a statement, the company is also expanding across Southeast Asia with a focus on Vietnam and Indonesia. Crackle Co-Founder, Jaivir Singh Nagi, expressed his gratitude towards the investors for their trust and support, stating that this funding will be instrumental in advancing its mission to maximise publisher revenue and fuel a thriving ecosystem of diverse content to keep the in ternet relevant and useful for all. Meanwhile, on the Southeast Asia expansion, its Co-Founder, Harsh Mittal said: 'Southeast Asia's booming tech scene is ripe for innovation. We are eager to partner with gaming and app developers to fuel their growth with our adtech solutions.' The funding will be largely deployed in product and technology and to scale operations globally to support publishers across gaming, apps, news, and over-the-top (OTT) by addressing key pain points, including low fill rates and effective cost per thousand impressions (eCPMs). Founded by three ex-Google executives, Harsh, Shashank Dudeja and Jaivir, who have a combined experience of 18 years in the publisher monetisation industry, Crackle's mission is to enable publishers to maximise their earning potential and build sustainable businesses. Since its launch in 2023, Crackle has gained significant traction, generating significant returns for publishers impacted by lower monetisation and the dominance of major tech platforms. Sourc e: BERNAMA News Agency