OpenWeb
{{Short description|Israeli company}}
{{distinguish|Web standards|Open Web Foundation}}
{{Infobox website
| name = OpenWeb
| logo = OpenWeb Logo.png
| logo_size = 200
| type = Privately held company
| company_type = Private
| founded = {{start date and age|2015}}
| location = New York, NY
| country = United States
| area_served = Worldwide
| founder = Nadav Shoval
Roee Goldberg
Ishay Green
| key_people = Tim Harvey (CEO)
Haim Sasson (President)
Tiffany Xingyu Wang (CMO)
Max Weiss (COO)
Yaron Blachman (CISO)
Rob Meadows (CTO)
| industry = Internet
| chairman =
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| employees = 400
| parent =
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| url = {{URL|openweb.com}}
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| language = Multilingual
| launched = {{start date and age|2015}}
| current_status = Active
}}
OpenWeb is a social engagement platform that builds online communities around digital content.{{Cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2014/10/22/spot-im/|title=Spot.IM Turns Any Site Into A Social Network {{!}} TechCrunch|last=Shu|first=Catherine|access-date=2017-07-05}} OpenWeb works with publishers to bring conversations back from social networks to publisher sites.
OpenWeb's technology allows publishers and online content creators to host and moderate comments sections, Polls, "Ask Me Anything"s and Live Blogs. Their products also include a module that allows users to track topics, an insights dashboard, and several advertising modules.
History
The company was founded in 2015 as Spot.IM by Israeli software architects Nadav Shoval and Ishay Green.{{cite web|url=http://www.mediabistro.com/10000words/israeli-tech-start-up-spot-im-enables-publishers-to-turn-visitors-into-a-community_b29060|title=Israeli Tech Start-up Spot.IM Enables Publishers To Turn Visitors Into a Community|date=24 October 2014|publisher=Mediabistro|accessdate=28 October 2014|author=Krawitz, Alan}} Roee Goldberg joined as Co-Founder and COO in 2014.{{Cite web|title=Who we are|url=https://www.openweb.com/who-we-are/|access-date=2020-06-25|website=OpenWeb|language=en}}
In 2016, Spot.IM raised $13 million from Index Ventures and AltaIR Capital, along with other notable technology investors, in a Series A round.{{Cite web|url=https://venturebeat.com/2016/08/03/spot-im-grabs-13-million-to-solve-your-websites-most-pressing-engagement-problem/|title=Spot.IM grabs $13 million to solve your website’s most pressing engagement problem|date=2016-08-03|website=VentureBeat|access-date=2017-07-05}}
In 2017, co-founder and CEO, Nadav Shoval, was inducted into the second annual Forbes Israel 30 Under 30 list.{{Cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbespr/2017/02/20/forbes-announces-second-annual-forbes-israel-30-under-30-list-highlighting-the-accomplishments-of-60-game-changers-from-across-israeli-society/#7b1be384d318|title=Forbes Announces Second Annual Forbes Israel 30 Under 30 List, Highlighting the Accomplishments of 60 Game Changers from Across Israeli Society|last=Communications|first=Forbes Corporate|work=Forbes|access-date=2017-07-05}} In addition, the company finalized its Series C investment round of $25M, led by New York City-based fund - Insight Partners, Altair VC, and more.{{Cite news|url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/spotim-closes-25-million-series-c-led-by-insight-venture-partners-2017-11-29|title=Spot.IM Closes $25 Million Series C Led by Insight Venture Partners|date=2017-11-29|website=MarketWatch|access-date=2017-11-29}}{{Cite news|url=https://techcrunch.com/2017/11/30/spot-im-raises-25-million-for-a-better-comments-section/?guccounter=1|title=Spot.IM raises $25 million for a better comments section|website=TechCrunch}}
In 2019, Spot.IM raised $25 million in Series D funding.{{Cite web|title=Spot.IM raises $25M to help publishers engage with readers|url=https://techcrunch.com/2019/04/30/spot-im-series-d/|access-date=2020-06-26|website=TechCrunch|language=en-US}} The new funding was led by previous investor Insight Partners along with Norma Investments, AltaIR Capital, Cerca and WGI Group.
In 2020, the company was renamed OpenWeb.{{Cite web| url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/spotim-is-now-openweb-301082941.html| title=Spot.IM is Now OpenWeb| publisher=PR Newswire| date=2020-06-24}}
In November 2021, OpenWeb raised a $150M Series E financing round which included investment from Insight Partners, Georgian, The New York Times Company, Samsung Next, Dentsu Ventures, Harel, Entrée Capital, Omer Cygler, and Scott Galloway. This round of investment pushed the company's valuation over $1 billion.{{Cite web |last=Fischer |first=Sara |date=2021-11-09 |title=Exclusive: Backed by NYT, OpenWeb becomes a tech unicorn |url=https://www.axios.com/nytimes-openweb-tech-unicorn-0a55d6ae-79e5-43f9-a050-55fe2f1b3ffc.html |access-date=2022-04-20 |website=Axios |language=en}} In November 2022, OpenWeb announced a Series F round of funding at $170M, valuing the company at over $1.5 billion.{{Cite web |last=OpenWeb |title=OpenWeb Raises $170 Million In Series F as it Continues Rapid Expansion with $1.5 Billion Valuation |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/openweb-raises-170-million-in-series-f-as-it-continues-rapid-expansion-with-1-5-billion-valuation-301661238.html |access-date=2023-02-07 |website=www.prnewswire.com |language=en}}
In February 2022, the company acquired Hive Media Group for a mix of cash and stock, with a total value of $60M.{{Cite web| url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/openweb-makes-strategic-acquisition-of-hive-media-group-providing-more-value-to-premium-publishers-301464105.html| title=OpenWeb Makes Strategic Acquisition of Hive Media Group, Providing More Value to Premium Publishers| publisher=PR Newswire| date=2022-01-19}} In April 2022, OpenWeb acquired French advertising company Adyoulike for a mix of cash and stock, with a total value of $100M.{{Cite news |last=Graham |first=Megan |date=2022-04-12 |title=OpenWeb, Which Aims to Help Publishers Connect With Their Readers, Buys French Ad Firm for $100 Million |language=en-US |work=Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/openweb-which-aims-to-help-publishers-connect-with-their-readers-buys-french-ad-firm-for-100-million-11649757600 |access-date=2022-04-18 |issn=0099-9660}} In January 2023, OpenWeb acquired personalization and monetization platform Jeeng.{{Cite news |date=2023-01-26 |title=OpenWeb Supercharges Community Economy with $100 Million Acquisition of Jeeng |language=en-US |work=PRNewswire |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/openweb-supercharges-community-economy-with-100-million-acquisition-of-jeeng-301731173.html |access-date=2023-01-26}}
In September 2024 Nadav Shoval was replaced by Tim Harvey as CEO, purportedly after a disagreement over a potential investment from BlackRock.{{Cite web |last=O'Reilly |first=Lara |title=OpenWeb's ousted CEO who refused to quit speaks exclusively with BI about his battle with the board |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/nadav-shoval-ouster-tech-startup-openweb-2024-12 |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}} Nadav Shoval refused to step down as CEO, but he was removed from OpenWeb's leadership page.{{Cite web |last=Loizos |first=Connie |date=2024-09-12 |title=Drama at OpenWeb, as a new CEO is announced – and the founding CEO says he’s staying |url=https://techcrunch.com/2024/09/11/drama-at-openweb-as-a-new-ceo-is-announced-and-the-founding-ceo-says-hes-staying/ |access-date=2025-01-24 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}} Shoval attempted to be reinstated as CEO by filing an injunction with an Israeli court, however he was unsuccessful.{{Cite web |last=Stenberg |first=Mark |date=2024-11-15 |title=OpenWeb Founder Loses Court Appeal Over Dramatic Ousting |url=https://www.adweek.com/media/openweb-nadav-shoval-loses-appeal/ |access-date=2025-01-24 |language=en-US}}
In February 2025, Nadal Shoval was allowed to return to OpenWeb as an advisor to the CEO.{{Cite web |last=O'Reilly |first=Lara |title=OpenWeb's ousted founder and CEO is back at the tech company in an advisor role after a messy boardroom battle |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/ousted-openweb-ceo-founder-nadav-shoval-returns-advisor-2025-2 |access-date=2025-02-19 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}}
Criticism
OpenWeb has been criticized by users on Trustpilot for promoting censorship through their opaque moderation guidelines.{{Cite web |date=2023-09-29 |title=OpenWeb is rated "Bad" with 1.4 / 5 on Trustpilot |url=https://www.trustpilot.com/review/openweb.com?page=2 |access-date=2025-02-20 |website=Trustpilot |language=en-US}}
The company has also been criticized for providing advertising services to Steve Bannon's far-right publication The Populist Press (now Political Signal), as well as Russian state media outlet RT. Following public scrutiny in 2023, OpenWeb cut their ties to RT but maintains its partnership with the Populist Press.{{Cite web |last=Claire |first=Nandini & |date=2023-11-06 |title=OpenWeb's secret relationship with Steve Bannon |url=https://checkmyads.org/openweb-steve-bannon-explainer/ |access-date=2025-02-20 |website=checkmyads.org |language=en-US}}
See also
References
{{reflist|2}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://www.openweb.com/}}
Category:Companies based in Tel Aviv