OwnLocal
| File:OwnLocal.png | |
| Company type | Technology |
|---|---|
| Industry | Advertising |
| Founded | Austin, Texas, United States (2010) |
| Founder |
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| Headquarters | Austin, Texas , United States |
Key people | |
| Products |
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| Website | ownlocal |
OwnLocal is a digital advertising startup headquartered in Austin, Texas, established in 2010.[1][2][3][4]
History
In 2010, Lloyd Armbrust and Jason Novek launched Seeing Interactive.[1][5][6][7] The company, supported by the seed accelerator Y-Combinator, introduced services aimed at local newspapers, television, and radio stations.[1][4][5][8] Initial seed funding of $1 million was secured from investors such as Lerer Ventures, Baseline Ventures, Joshua Schachter, and Paul Buchheit.[1][9] In March 2011, the firm rebranded itself as OwnLocal.[10]
By October 2011, OwnLocal had raised an additional investment round led by Automattic, the creators of WordPress, together with the incubator 500 Startups.[3][8] This funding round increased the total capital raised to $2 million.[2][11]
OwnLocal was among the earliest for-profit ventures financed by the Knight Enterprise Fund, which concentrates on media innovation.[2][8][11] In February 2013, Digital First Ventures made an equity investment in OwnLocal for an undisclosed sum.[12]
Acquisitions
In May 2014, OwnLocal expanded its capabilities by acquiring Whoosh Traffic, an Austin-based company specializing in SEO reporting for both Fortune 500 companies and smaller businesses. Whoosh had backing from Techstars, 500 Startups, and other prominent investors.
On March 10, 2015, OwnLocal further grew by purchasing Sidengo, a website creation tool tailored for users lacking design or technical expertise. Founded in Monterrey, Mexico by Jorge González and Gabriel Garza, Sidengo’s technology was incorporated into OwnLocal’s platform and made available to its media partners.
In March 2016, OwnLocal acquired Inbound Press, a company established by Andrew McFadden in Orange County, California. Its main product, Smart Media Kit—which generates advertising leads for newspapers—was integrated into OwnLocal’s portfolio by June of that year.
The company continued its expansion in 2017 by acquiring Wanderful Media, a startup focused on local deals supported by leading newspaper organizations.
References
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