Empathy Marketing Limited (EML), the marketing solutions provider which operates Internet firm Pigsback.com, has raised €2.5 million (£1.97 million) in private funding. New investors include entertainment group Xtra-vision, a consortium of UK private investors and private Irish investors including the management team. Enterprise Ireland has also invested in the company.

EML said yesterday Pigsback.com had more than 85,000 members and expected to exceed revenues of €1.5 million in 2001. The company expects to be in profit from the second quarter of 2002. EML offers services to marketers using its Pigsback.com site as well as permission-based e-mail and messaging services.