Jelly (app)
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Internet, Social networking service |
| Founded | March 2013 |
| Founder | Biz Stone |
| Fate | Acquired by Pinterest |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Question-and-answer application |
| Parent | Jelly Industries (until 2017), then Pinterest (from 2017) |
Jelly was a question-and-answer application developed by Jelly Industries, a search-engine enterprise founded by Biz Stone, who also co-founded Twitter. In March 2017, Pinterest purchased Jelly for an undisclosed sum.
Unlike competitors such as Quora, Jelly set itself apart by incorporating visual elements to enhance responses, encouraging users to submit questions accompanied by images.
History
In March 2013, announcements emerged about Biz Stone introducing a native mobile application named Jelly. Early remarks from Stone were intentionally ambiguous, sparking curiosity regarding the app’s exact function.
While still operating in secrecy, Jelly secured Series A investment in May 2013 from backers including Spark Capital, SV Angel, Square CEO Jack Dorsey, Reid Hoffman, Al Gore, and Bono.
The official release took place on January 7, 2014, garnering considerable press coverage. Stone described Jelly’s mission as promoting empathy among respondents by encouraging them to feel helpful. Nonetheless, he admitted in interviews that forming a company around Jelly was not the original intention.
Post-launch, media attention focused on Jelly’s potential applications for brands and consumer shopping guidance. On January 23, 2014, the company raised Series B capital led by Greylock Partners.
In March 2014, an update to the iOS version introduced location-based queries directed to nearby users, thereby improving interaction levels.
On March 8, 2017, Pinterest revealed its acquisition of Jelly Industries, planning to incorporate its technology into Pinterest’s existing platform.