Socrata
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Software |
| Founded | 1 January 2007 in Seattle, Washington, United States |
| Founder | Kevin Merritt |
| Fate | Acquired by Tyler Technologies |
| Headquarters | Seattle , United States |
Area served | United States, United Kingdom |
| Products | Open data platform, Open Data Network |
| Parent | Tyler Technologies |
Socrata was a business-to-government software company that provided an open data platform aimed at enabling civic developers to create applications more effectively. Established in 2007 by Kevin Merritt in Seattle, Washington, the firm grew to include offices in both Washington, D.C. and London, UK. In 2018, Socrata became part of Tyler Technologies through acquisition.
History
The company initially debuted as Blist, an online database software service provider showcased at DEMO 2008. It rebranded to Socrata in 2009, redirecting its focus toward serving the public sector.
In 2016, Socrata collaborated with Motorola Solutions to create CrimeReports, a crime mapping tool utilized by more than 1,200 U.S. law enforcement agencies. The subsequent year saw the Obama White House employ Socrata alongside Genius and GitHub to display its budget data.
Following its acquisition by Tyler Technologies in 2018, a majority of Socrata’s staff moved to Tyler while continuing operations in Seattle and Washington D.C. In 2019, Motorola Solutions ended its collaboration with Socrata, discontinuing nationwide access to open crime APIs.
Cost
According to a 2015 report by Governing Magazine, the City of Los Angeles purchased Socrata’s services with an initial payment of $319,000 plus annual fees amounting to $287,000.
Open Data Network
Socrata introduced the Open Data Network in July 2014, a platform powered by machine learning designed to promote data sharing between public agencies and private entities. This network grants governments access to datasets including crime statistics, transit information, 311 service requests, and expenditure records. San Francisco later incorporated this network into its municipal systems.
FedRAMP
In January 2008, Socrata secured $6.5 million in Series A funding from Morgenthaler Ventures and Frazier Technology Ventures. By June 2013, it completed a Series B round raising $18 million with participation from OpenView Venture Partners, Morgenthaler Ventures, Frazier Technology Partners, and In-Q-Tel. November 2014 marked the closure of a $30 million Series C round led by Sapphire Ventures alongside existing investors.
The company earned FedRAMP Moderate authorization in 2017 through the US General Services Administration (GSA) Program Management Office, bolstering its capacity to serve federal government clients.