ChaCha (search engine)

ChaCha

Company type	Private
Industry	Internet services, Search engine
Founded	September 1, 2006 (2006-09-01) in Carmel, Indiana, United States
Founder	Scott A. Jones, Brad Bostic
Defunct	December 12, 2016 (2016-12-12)
Headquarters	Carmel , United States
Area served	Indianapolis metropolitan area, United States; United Kingdom (until 2012)
Products	Human-assisted search engine, SMS question-answering service, voice search, mobile marketing

ChaCha was a US-based human-assisted search engine that provided free, immediate responses through its website and mobile applications. Established in 2006 by Scott A. Jones and Brad Bostic in Carmel, Indiana, the company operated primarily within the Indianapolis metropolitan area. Its name is inspired by the Mandarin term cha (查), which translates to "search."

History

The alpha version of ChaCha debuted on September 1, 2006, followed by a beta release on November 6, 2006. By the end of that year, the platform had attracted 20,000 registered guides and secured $6 million in development capital from investors, including Jeff Bezos’s Bezos Expeditions.

By January 2008, ChaCha engaged 5,000 freelance guides, with at least 500 actively assisting users at any given time. That same year, the company launched a text-based service enabling users to send questions via SMS to 242-242 (CHA-CHA) and receive real-time answers.

Initial funding included $14 million in equity financing alongside a $2 million grant from the 21st Century Technology Fund. In March 2009, ChaCha raised an additional $12 million in equity while implementing a 25% reduction in workforce and a 10% salary cut for remaining staff. The total venture capital raised ranged between $43 million and $58 million. Shortly thereafter, co-founder Brad Bostic resigned as president amid financial difficulties during the Great Recession.

In August 2011, ChaCha extended its SMS question-answering service to the United Kingdom; however, it discontinued UK operations by April 2012 due to insufficient user adoption of its competitively priced offerings.

On December 12, 2016, ChaCha ceased all operations as falling advertising revenues undermined its ability to manage outstanding debts.

Desktop search

Originally, ChaCha provided human-assisted search through a web browser interface where freelancers curated and improved search responses. The layout included a chat panel on the left for guide interaction, search results in the center, and targeted advertisements on the right. This desktop search feature was discontinued in April 2008 to prioritize mobile product development.

Mobile search

Users could submit questions via SMS to 242–242 and obtain answers delivered by human guides. While standard text messaging fees applied according to user plans, no additional charges were imposed by ChaCha.

Voice search

In April 2008, ChaCha launched a beta voice-based search service accessible through a toll-free number (800-2ChaCha), allowing users to call in and receive human-generated answers sent via SMS as an alternative to browser-based guided search.

Mobile marketing

In July 2008, ChaCha collaborated with Coca-Cola to promote the My Coke Rewards program targeting NASCAR enthusiasts through mobile marketing campaigns. Although there were reports suggesting plans to implement fees of $5–10 per month after ten queries, no such charges had been introduced as of May 2009.

At ad:tech New York City in November 2008, ChaCha unveiled its SMS Advertising Platform. By March 2009, the company reported delivering 30 million monthly ad impressions and serving approximately 3.6 million users since January 2008. A 2009 ESPN article highlighted that ChaCha handled roughly one million questions daily. To enhance advertising efforts, a former Yahoo executive established a New York City office for the company.

In April 2009, sports journalist Rick Reilly spent time at ChaCha for an ESPN The Magazine profile.

External links

• (Archived index)