US-based customer engagement software developer Lithium Technologies has acquired Microsoft-backed web analytics firm Klout in an all-share deal reported by Fortune to be worth $200m.
Founded in California in 2008, Klout measures the online presence and influence of individual users and business using big data analytics that examine social media output. Brands can also offer rewards in the form of ‘Perks’, based on a user’s potential online influence, allowing them to tap influential voices on the web.
Microsoft made a strategic investment in Klout in 2012, incorporating Klout scores on to its online search engine Bing at the same time.
Klout has not publicly revealed how much funding it has raised, though the company did receive about $30m in a series C round in January 2012 and an $8.5m series B round the previous year, both of which were led by venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield Byers. It also secured $1.6m in a series A round in 2010.
Other investors include Venrock, Institutional Venture Partners, ff Venture Capital, Paige Craig, CrunchFund, Greycroft Partners, Lucid Ventures, Mayfield Fund, Zelkova Ventures and assorted angels.
Klout will maintain its service and will continue offering Perks. Lithium, which has a substantial presence in customer experience management, will however use the company’s analytics and data to expand its own social network engagement product offering.
Joe Fernandez, a co-founder of Klout, said in a blog post: “As Klout takes the next step toward helping our users maximise their impact online, I believe that Lithium is the ideal partner. Lithium powers many of the most vibrant communities online for leading brands like Spotify, Skype and Sephora. Together, we can do more to help you share your passions, measure your impact, and grow your reputation.”