Scripped acquires Zhura and raises $250K

Free screenwriting software service gobbles up another and doubles its user base

Scripped, developer of an online screenwriting solution, has acquired one of its competitors, Zhura, for an undisclosed amount, though Scripped reports it to be in the millions. In joining forces, Scripped doubles the size of its community to 60,000 users.

Scripped has also just raised $250,000 from private angel investors.

President and co-founder Sunil Rajaraman retains his position as CEO, while Break Media CEO Keith Richman and co-founder and former President of BitTorrent Ashwin Navin join the company's Board of Advisors.

The San Francisco-based startup in 2007 released Scripped Writer Beta, free script writing software designed to be used right in the user's browser and targeted at writers as experienced as professionals or amateurs completely new to the art.

Of course, Scripped also offers a professional version of its software ($4.95/month or $49.95/year) with additional features like automatically-fixed page breaks, unlimited contest entries, and a tool that remembers character names. Additionally, the Pro version includes spell check and find/replace functionality (how these aren't included in the free version seems baffling). Scripped says that soon the Pro version will feature alternative formats dependent on the medium being written for, additional security, and some other unannounced tools.

Founded in 2006 by MIT, UCLA and USC students, Scripped says its mission is "to make screenwriting accessible to writers of all levels and provide the tools and community writers need to bring their ideas from inception to completion."