Crocodoc Debuts HTML5 Document Embedding Technology; Partners With Dropbox, Yammer, SAP

Y Combinator alum Crocodoc is debuting a new technology today that aims to bring an enterprise-grade HTML5 document embedding service for Microsoft Office and PDF files to web-based products.

Crocodoc launched in 2010 to kill off Acrobat. The startup’s initial Flash-based technology allowed you to upload a PDF, and receive a version of the same document in your browser, which you could then share with coworkers and annotate with notes, highlighting, text, and a pen tool, with changes that show up to other users in real-time. Last year, Crocodoc launched this technology in HTML5 for mobile embedding.

Today, Crocodoc is debuting a new version of this HTML5 embedding technology specifically designed for the scale and demand of consumer and business web and mobile applications. The startup says that using Crocodoc, documents can be embedded into any web or mobile app using a simple iFrame or JavaScript library (no plugins, downloads, or desktop software required). The technology features fast, crystal-clear rendering, and advanced security, including 256-bit document encryption, on-premise storage options, and multiple deployment options including SaaS and private cloud.

Customers can also customize the appearance and behavior of Crocodoc’s viewer and access built-in commenting, highlighting, and drawing tools.

Already, Dropbox, LinkedIn, Yammer, and SAP are using the startup’s document embedding technology. For example, Dropbox uses Crocodoc’s HTML5 document viewing solution to allow their users to view documents in their web browsers and mobile devices without having to download large files or use desktop software (you can see an example here). Via LinkedIn’s Recruiter product, Crocodoc enables recruiters to upload candidates’ resumes in Word and PDF format without having to download files and open them using desktop software.

Founder Ryan Damico explains that licensing the technology was an afterthought last year, but the company become inundated with requests from companies to use the embedding technology. The startup saw a larger opportunity to go after a licensing model with companies like Dropbox and others.

Crocodoc has raised funding from Y Combinator, SV Angel, Paul Buchheit, Joshua Schachter, Dave McClure, Steve Chen and XG Ventures.