Challenged Connects Users, Influencers, Celebrities and Brands With Campaigns Encouraging Social Competition

SAN FRANCISCO, CA--(Marketwired - Jun 9, 2015) - The Challenged app launches today as the premier platform to create, participate in and explore online social challenges in order to link brands, influencers and monetization strategies, organically connecting them with consumers through non-disruptive branded content. The app delivers the most seamless social challenge creation and fulfillment experience that unites socially-activated users, celebrities and influencers, as well as charities to drive healthy competition and positive social change -- all from one destination.

"In acting as 'people talking to people' rather than 'marketers talking to consumers,' brands can engage in a two-way dialogue that is innately real and emotional," said Jason Neubauer, CEO of Challenged. "By focusing on emotional stories and high-quality, inventive production, brands have a real opportunity to establish a unique and memorable social presence."

With the Challenged App, brands have an opportunity to create branded content that is accepted, and even expected in the social space, going beyond product-focused content to develop meaningful, sustained dialogues that add value to all parties involved.

At launch you'll see:

• $20,000 Challenge: The Challenged founders want to know how you would spend $20,000 in a day. The most creative suggestion for how to spend the lump sum gets the cash to make that dream come true.
  
  
• Walgreens "Summer Beauty Challenge": Walgreens challenges users to bring their best summer beauty tip to life in a 12-second video using either CIRCA Beauty or Nonie Creme Colour Prevails products, available exclusively at the pharmacy chain. Beauty expert Lauria Locsmondy of the Walgreens Social and Content creative team will judge the Top 3 "viewed" Beauty Challenge videos submitted. The top submission chosen will win an assorted prize of the best-selling products from the two beauty lines. The 30-day video challenge will run from June 9 through July 8 with the official Walgreens beauty challenge hashtag: #BeautyChallengeContest.
  
  
• F*ck Cancer Shout-outs: Flip the bird to cancer in honor of a survivor or warrior you know as a show of strength. The winner will be flown to the next F*ck Cancer event and attend as VIP.
  
  
• HotelTonight Spontaneous Moments challenge: HotelTonight execs offer $10K in hotel credit to challengers who share their most spontaneous moments, as decided by the Challenged community.
  
  
• Celebrities and influencers: Challenged has partnered with over 50 celebrities and social media influencers, such as Nash Grier, Lele Pons, Cameron Dallas, etc. to participate in their kickoff using the #Challengedapp hashtag on Twitter.
  
  

"Video continues to be a compelling way to tell a great story. Today, more than ever, user-generated content inspires action and connects brands with customers," said Adam Kmiec, Senior Director of Mobile, Social and Content Marketing for Walgreens. "We believe the Challenged collaboration will be an effective and unique approach to reaching a key consumer audience and driving omni-channel conversions."

Challenged has received $1.2MM in seed funding led by 26MGMT, leader in social media management. Other investors include Nash and Hayes Grier, Cameron Dallas, Rodney Jerkins, Thomas Vardell, Bart Baker, Endemol, Bret Disend, Universal Music Group and Evolve Music Group.

Other key partners that will be leveraging the Challenged platform include Dick Clark productions in connection with its award and reality shows, Gametime, Musicians on Call, iHeart Radio, Photofy, Lele Pons, Twan Kuyper, Cody Johns, Xavier Di Petta, and many more.

Currently available for iOS, the Challenged app lets individuals and organizations start their own social media challenges, or engage with brands and influencers to compete for prizes to benefit charities. Challenges like the wildly popular Ice Bucket Challenge can now be supported by a robust platform that dramatically simplifies challenge management and takes away distraction from the challenge content itself.

Challenged is available for free in the iTunes App Store. For more information, visit www.challengedapp.com.

About Challenged
The Challenged app is a community-driven platform built to serve as the home for massive social challenges. Challenged spotlights social competition, turning it into the main event, rather than fleeting moments floating between general content on existing social media networks. Users can interact directly with celebrities, influencers and brands, as well as charity organizations, becoming part of a movement larger than themselves. Based in San Francisco, Challenged is the brainchild of the creators of Social Bet, Inc.. For more information, check out www.challengedapp.com.