The book recommendation site TheReadingRoom has raised $2.75 million to help it speed its growth in North America, which is already its largest market. A portion of the new funds are being used to open its first office in the U.S., located on Hudson St. in New York City. The office will house CEO and founder Kim Anderson plus head of sales Cara Codemo and marketing director Ben Aronsten. TheReadingRoom will also keep its offices in London and Sydney.
The site aims to aid online book discovery using social networking combined with curated content, recommendations and featured selections. Users can also buy e-books directly from the site, and—in the U.S.-- buy print books as well in a program it began June 1. TheReadingRoom said it has about 650,000 members, 75% of whom are in North America with the remainder in the U.K. and Australia.
