• by Gavin O'Malley  @mp_gavin, October 22, 2013

Video advertising technology provider Teads just closed a $5.2 million Series A investment round led by Partech Venture and Elaia Partners.
 
Although the U.S. market is already crammed with technology vendors, the French startup plans to use the funding to expand its stateside presence.
 
Founded in 2011, Teads helps publishers from Le Monde to Reuters run video ad formats across articles, home pages, slide shows, music, video and social media pages.
 
Teads is perhaps best known for its “inRead” ad format, which runs within articles and only when in view. Launched a year ago, the unit is now deployed in more than 30 countries and by over 500 publishers, by the company’s estimation.
 
This year, online video ad spending will reach $4.14 billion -- an increase of about 40% year-over-year -- according to eMarketer. The spending is being driven by more findings that draw a clear connection between video ad formats and higher brand awareness, message association, purchase intent and favorability.
 
Additional publisher clients include Le Figaro, Financial Times, Forbes, The Economist, The Guardian, El Mundo and La Repubblica.
 
With 30 employees, Teads counts offices in London, New York, Sydney and Paris.