Graphiq
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Semantic technology, Artificial intelligence, Data visualization |
| Predecessor | FindTheBest |
| Founded | 2009 |
| Founder | Kevin J. O'Connor, Scott Leonard, Brayton Johnson |
| Fate | Acquired by Amazon in May 2017 |
| Headquarters | Santa Barbara , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Kevin J. O'Connor (CEO, founder) |
| Products | Graphiq Search, Feed, Plugins, FindTheData.com, FindTheHome |
| Owner | Amazon |
Number of employees | 110 (2014) |
| Parent | Amazon |
Graphiq (previously known as FindTheBest) is a company specializing in semantic technology that leverages artificial intelligence to swiftly generate interactive, data-driven infographics. Its platform is designed to deliver direct answers on a wide array of topics, functioning similarly to Wolfram Alpha and circumventing conventional search engines.
Headquartered in Santa Barbara, California, Graphiq had secured $32 million in venture capital funding by 2013. In May 2017, Amazon acquired the company for approximately $50 million. After this acquisition, Graphiq ceased offering its services to news publishers as part of the integration with Amazon.
History
Founded in 2009 under the name FindTheBest by Kevin J. O'Connor, who previously served as CEO and co-founder of DoubleClick, along with Scott Leonard and Brayton Johnson, the company launched its public website in 2010 featuring nine comparison categories such as health, education, business, and sports. Initial financing included $750,000 contributions from each founder and a $2 million investment from Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers in December 2010.
In 2011, Kleiner Perkins injected an additional $4 million, followed by a Series B funding round totaling $11 million from New World Ventures, Montgomery & Co., Kleiner Perkins, Pritzker Group Venture Capital, and others. By May 2014, FindTheBest was attracting 23 million visitors monthly and employed approximately 110 staff members.
The company broadened its offerings with the launch of FindTheData.com in 2011 and introduced the AssistMe feature in 2012. Its first foray into international markets took place in January 2013 with launches in Spain, South Korea, and New Zealand; Germany and the UK followed suit in April 2013. The real estate research platform FindTheHome debuted in 2014.
In August 2015, the firm rebranded as Graphiq Inc., unveiling advanced data visualization tools tailored for publishers. At that point, its database encompassed 1 billion entities, 120 billion attributes, and 25 billion relationships.
Product
Graphiq's primary product for digital content creators, Graphiq Search, grants access to a vast library containing over 10 billion interactive visualizations. The company also manages 22 research websites focused on specific verticals that attract about 33 million monthly visitors, enabling users to explore significant topics. Data is sourced from a combination of public and private datasets and displayed through visual tables equipped with filters and rating systems.
Consumers primarily engage with these research platforms via desktop or mobile devices to investigate and modify product or service information; all user-submitted changes are subject to review prior to publication.
For content producers and journalists working online, Graphiq provides tools such as Graphiq Search, Feed, and Plugins. Prominent publishers incorporating Graphiq’s visualizations include AOL, MSN, The International Business Times, and Hearst Newspapers. In August 2016, Reuters formed a partnership with Graphiq to supply interactive visualizations to its clientele. Subsequently, in October 2016, The Associated Press extended its collaboration with Graphiq to feature paired visualizations alongside AP’s text content.
Sites
By February 15, 2017, the company’s portfolio comprised numerous specialized research websites:
Business model
The company defines itself as a "research engine," serving as a link between conventional search tools and review platforms. Its research websites are accessible to users at no cost and generate income through advertising efforts. The visual representations utilize the identical data source and prominently display the Graphiq brand, with embedded links directing visitors back to revenue-generating research sites. This cohesive strategy boosts user interaction while facilitating growth in ad-driven revenue streams.
External links
- Articles with short description
- Amazon (company) acquisitions
- Companies based in Santa Barbara, California
- Technology companies established in 2009
- Technology companies of the United States
- American review websites
- Comparison shopping websites
- Consumer guides
- Internet search engines
- 2017 mergers and acquisitions
- 2009 establishments in California