Fwix gets $2.75 mln and launches open API

Local real-time news site looking to expand coverage with Series A funding

With the rise of Twitter, the real-time sector of online technology has been getting some attention these days.  Fwix, a real-time local newswire, announced its Series A funding - $2.75 million from Blue Run Ventures, which previously invested in PayPal and Slide.  Along with that, the startup shared it has opened up its API for bloggers and publishers to make use of.

Based out San Francisco, Ca., Fwix offers its users a local newswire that it says stays up to date in real time, calling its service, "the people's newswire."   Unlike sites like Tweetmeme, which focuses solely on what people are Tweeting about, Fwix aggregates citizen journalists, news organizations, as well as blogs, which are relevant to that users location.  If you want to share the article, Fwix has an easy button where users can login and ReTweet articles.   I actually used it for the first time today and really enjoyed the site, most articles came from independent blogs and other publications from my local area.  

"Our goal is to bring the best and most relevant local content to the largest readership possible," said Darian Shirazi, founder and CEO of Fwix.

On top of focusing on the real-time Web, Fwix is also up date with what seems to be a requirement for successful sites these days, opening up its API for anybody to use.  This new "Wire API," as Fwix has named it, will allow bloggers and publishers to both get specific content from and deliver newsworthy content to the wire.  

Fwix also has an iPhone application which functions similar to the site and also allows users to upload photos and break news in their area.

The startup's content network has grown to 9 million unique visitors per month and Fwix is currently available in nearly 80 U.S. and Canadian cities.  As for where the future of Fwix leads, a representative told me, "funds will be used toward continuing to develop the content network, expanding coverage areas and working on new ways to grow the vision of Fwix."