Wildfire Interactive
IndustrySocial marketing SaaS
Founded2008
FoundersAlain Chuard, Victoria Ransom
FateAcquired by Google, 2012

Wildfire Interactive Inc, or Wildfire, was a software company that developed a social marketing application that enabled businesses to create, optimize and measure their presence on social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and YouTube.[1][2] The Redwood City startup was founded in 2008 by Victoria Ransom and Alain Chuard.[3]

Google acquired Wildfire in 2012 for a reported $450 million.[1][3] In 2014, Wildfire announced it would be integrated into Google's general adtech platform DoubleClick.[4]

Company history

Wildfire was founded by Victoria Ransom and Alain Chuard who needed to develop their own social-marketing campaign for their adventure-travel company Access Trips.[5] The tool was originally called Promotion Builder and focused on developing social media marketing campaigns including sweepstakes, user-generated contests, quizzes and coupons.[5][6] In the summer of 2009, the expanded platform was officially launched.[6]

In 2008, Ransom and Chuard applied for the Facebook Fund and received a $250,000 grant. Wildfire generated $100,000 in revenue within the first month of public launch. They raised a Series A round of $4 million in May 2010 and a second round of funding of $10 million in 2012.[6][7] Investors included Summit Partners, Facebook, Accel Partners and the Founder's Fund.[6] From 2008–2012, Wildfire grew to include 400 employees.[7] The company was named one of the top 10 places to work in the Bay Area in 2011 and 2012.[8][9]

Google purchased Wildfire in July 2012 for a reported $450 million.[3][7] In 2014, Google announced that Wildfire's social analytics would be supported through integration into Google's general ad technology platform DoubleClick. Further investments into development would be limited and the application would not be adding features or signing new clients.[4]

Overview

Wildfire allowed clients to engage and monetize customers through Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn and Google+.[5] The app's components included Pages, Promotions, Ads, Messages, and Monitoring. Users could schedule content deployment to multiple properties[citation needed] with campaigns able to be customized depending on the size and the needs of the business.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b Efrati, Amir (31 July 2012). "Google Acquires Social-Media Ad Firm Wildfire Interactive". wsj.com. Dow Jones & Company, Inc. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  2. ^ Falls, Jason (24 January 2012). "Revisiting WildfireApp: A Serious Facebook Management Tool". socialmediaexplorer.com. Social Media Explorer. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  3. ^ a b c Constine, John (6 August 2012). "Google Slaps $100M Golden Handcuffs On Wildfire To Retain Employees After $350M Acquisition". techcrunch.com. AOL Inc. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  4. ^ a b Edwards, Jim (14 March 2014). "Google Is Winding Down Wildfire, The Social Media Platform It Bought For $350 Million". businessinsider.com. Business Insider Inc. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  5. ^ a b c Luther, Jason; Foster, George. "Executive Cases: Interviews with Senior Executives of Early-Stage Companies: Wildfire Interactive – USA". reports.weforum.org. World Economic Forum. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  6. ^ a b c d e Mitra, Sramana (18 October 2013). Feminine Feminism. United States: Sramana Mitra 2013. pp. 68–81.
  7. ^ a b c Constine, John (31 July 2012). "Google Acquires Wildfire, Will Now Sell Facebook And Twitter Marketing Services". techcrunch.com. AOL Inc. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  8. ^ "125 Best Places to Work in the Bay Area unveiled". bizjournals.com. San Francisco Business Times. 22 April 2011. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  9. ^ "Where are the Bay Area's Best Places to Work?". bizjournals.com. Silicon Valley Business Journal. 20 April 2012. Retrieved 7 October 2015.

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