Real Chemistry
{{Short description|American holding company}}
{{Self-published|date=August 2023}}
{{good article}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Real Chemistry
| logo = Real Chemistry logo.png
| logo_size = 300px
| type = Private
| industry = Healthcare
| foundation = {{Start date and age|2001}}
| key_people = Jim Weiss, Founder and Chairman
Shankar Narayanan, CEO{{cite news|url=https://www.pharmexec.com/view/real-chemistry-founder-and-chief-executive-officer-jim-weiss-to-become-chairman-and-shankar-narayanan-to-become-chief-executive-officer|date=December 3, 2021|title=Real Chemistry Founder and Chief Executive Officer Jim Weiss to Become Chairman and Shankar Narayanan to Become Chief Executive Officer|work=PharmExec}}
Jennifer Gottlieb, Chief Client Officer{{cite web | last=Kanski | first=Alison | title=Jennifer Gottlieb named W2O Group president | website=PR Week | date=January 22, 2018 | url=https://www.prweek.com/article/1455053 | access-date=April 11, 2018}}
| num_locations = 10{{cite web| title=Contact|url=https://www.realchemistry.com/contact| access-date=June 13, 2023}}
| products =
| num_employees = 2,000 (2022){{cite web |url=https://www.realchemistry.com/article/helping-people-learn-and-grow |title=HELPING PEOPLE LEARN AND GROW}}
| parent =
| homepage = {{Official website|https://www.realchemistry.com/}}
}}
Real Chemistry, formerly known as W2O Group, is a global provider of marketing and analytics services, including public relations, to the healthcare and technology industries. Founded by Jim Weiss in 2001, Real Chemistry is an American company with global offices in Europe and Canada.
Corporate history
Real Chemistry was founded as WeissComm Partners in 2001 by Jim Weiss as a one-person marketing consulting firm, with clients primarily in the healthcare industry.{{cite news|title=W2O Group: Starting small, this shop found big growth via speed and flexibility|first=James|last=Chase|newspaper=Medical Marketing and Media|date=July 2012}} His firm grew quickly until 2008. According to Weiss, less favorable conditions in the healthcare industry led to a series of layoffs.
In response, the following year Weiss acquired creative services firm ODA and social media marketing firm, Common Sense Media Group, in order to diversify his interests and reduce reliance on the healthcare industry. That same year, Weiss re-formed the company under the acronym WCG, consolidating the two acquisitions under a new corporate umbrella.{{cite news|title=New companies expand WCG's reach|last=Arnold|first=Matthew|newspaper=Medical Marketing and Media|date=April 2012}} The acquired companies and the firm's revenues continued growing.{{cite news|newspaper=PR Week|date=May 14, 2010|title=Agency Profiles - WCG|page=52}} By 2011 it had annual revenues of $48 million.
In 2012, WCG was re-structured again under a new holding company called W2O Group, which was made up of three companies: WCG, W2O Ventures, and Twist Mktg.{{cite web | title=WCG Creates New Parent Company, Network of Firms | website=Adweek – Breaking News in Advertising, Media and Technology | date=March 8, 2012 | url=http://www.adweek.com/prnewser/wcg-creates-new-parent-company-network-of-firms/35955 | access-date=December 23, 2015}} The fourth company in the holding group, Brewlife, was formed the following year to focus on startup companies.{{cite web | title=W2O Launches New ‘Brewlife’ Agency | website=W2O Launches New ‘Brewlife’ Agency | date=January 7, 2013 | url=http://www.adweek.com/prnewser/w20-launches-new-brewlife-agency/54964 | access-date=December 23, 2015|first=Patrick|last=Coffee}} The holding group had $75 million in annual revenues by 2013{{cite news|title=W2O Group|last=Lewis|first=Tanya|newspaper=Medical Marketing and Media|date=July 2014}} and $82.6 million in 2014.{{cite web | title=W2O Group: Agency Business Report 2015 | website=US Home | date=April 27, 2015 | url=http://www.prweek.com/article/1344259 | access-date=December 23, 2015}} In 2014 and 2015, W2O opened new offices in major U.S. and European cities.
In May 2016, a private-equity firm called Mountaingate Capital made an investment in W2O Group, which funded a series of acquisitions. Seven months after acquiring Fox Communications, W2O Group laid off founder Lynn Fox, who sued alleging gender discrimination.{{cite web | first=Aarti|last=Shah|title=W2O Faces Gender Discrimination Lawsuit From Former Media Head | website=The Holmes Report | date=August 10, 2016 | url=https://www.holmesreport.com/latest/article/w2o-faces-gender-discrimination-lawsuit-from-former-media-head | access-date=April 11, 2018}}{{cite web | last=Bradley | first=Diana | title=W2O faces gender discrimination suit from former staffer Lynn Fox | website=PR Week | date=August 10, 2016 | url=https://www.prweek.com/article/1405330 | access-date=April 11, 2018}}The lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice in May 2017: [https://webapps.sftc.org/ci/CaseInfo.dll?CaseNum=CGC16553323&SessionID=14ABA808CE3F957D399F88110912BB6C5229EFDD Case Info] & [https://imgquery.sftc.org/Sha1_newApp/ViewPDF.aspx?PDFName=05860129&DocumentId=05860129&MindsCat=C Dismissal]
In June 2019, New Mountain Capital acquired an interest in W2O Group for an undisclosed amount.{{cite web | last=Kanski | first=Alison | title=W2O receives new private equity investment from New Mountain Capital | website=PR Week | date=May 29, 2019 | url=https://www.prweek.com/article/1585987 | access-date=October 2, 2019}}{{cite web | title=New Mountain Capital Invests in W20 Group - Thu., May 30, 2019 | website= ODwyers | date=May 30, 2019 | url=https://www.odwyerpr.com/story/public/12583/2019-05-30/new-mountain-capital-invests-w20-group.html | access-date=October 2, 2019}} Following the acquisition, the company acquired Elysia Group, Discern Health and 21GRAMS.
The company acquired starpower LLC, an entertainment marketing agency, in 2020. In January 2021, Swoop, Inc., which specializes in pharmaceutical IT, and IPM.ai, a data and analytics company, were both acquired.
In March 2021, W2O Group was rebranded as Real Chemistry, and all subsidiaries were consolidated into the newly unified company. As a result of rapid acquisition activity in 2019, Real Chemistry has grown to employ over 2,000 people in 10 locations worldwide.{{cite web |url=https://www.provokemedia.com/latest/article/w2o-group-rebrands-as-real-chemistry |title=W2O Group Rebrands As Real Chemistry |last= |first= |date=March 10, 2021 |website= |publisher=PRovoke Media |access-date= |quote=}}
In January 2022, Shankar Narayanan took over as CEO, and founder Jim Weiss became chairman.
In April 2022, Real Chemistry acquired the conversational AI company conversationHEALTH.{{cite news|url=https://www.mmm-online.com/home/channel/real-chemistry-acquires-ai-firm-conversationhealth/|author=Lecia Bushak|date=April 5, 2022|title=Real Chemistry acquires AI firm ConversationHealth|work=MM+M}}
In March 2023, Real Chemistry acquired TI Health, a data-driven marketing and predictive analytics company.{{cite news|url=https://www.mmm-online.com/home/channel/real-chemistry-continues-data-and-ai-buying-spree-doctor-focused-ad-tech-firm-ti-health/|author=Marc Iskowitz|date=March 1, 2023|title=Real Chemistry continues data and AI buying spree with doctor-focused ad-tech firm TI Health|work=MM+M}}
=Acquisitions=
| class="wikitable" |
| Date
! scope="col" width="200px" |Company ! scope="col" width="400px" |Description ! scope="col" width="30px" |References |
|---|
| 2009
|ODA |Creative services |
| 2009
|Common Sense Media Group |Social media marketing firm |
| 2012
|Ravel |Data analytics; based in Austin |
| 2012
|VM Foundry |Web and mobile development; based in Austin |
| 2013
|Partners for Medical Education |Medical consultation | |
| 2015
|ARC2 Communications & Media |Boutique public relations firm; based in Los Angeles |
| 2015
|Vintank |Social media and CRM software company |
| 2016
|Pure Communications |Marketing consultancy |{{cite web | last=Sobczyk | first=Carolyn | title=W2O acquires Pure Communications, plans to create new health and tech agency | website=MM&M | date=September 7, 2016 | url=https://www.mmm-online.com/agencies/w2o-acquires-pure-communications-plans-to-create-new-health-and-tech-agency/article/520944/ | access-date=April 11, 2018}} |
| 2016
|Marketeching Solutions |Social listening |{{cite web | last=Kanski | first=Alison | title=W2O acquires research and analytics firm Marketeching Solutions | website=PR Week | date=November 7, 2016 | url=https://www.prweek.com/article/1414639 | access-date=April 11, 2018}} |
| 2017
|Sentient Interactive |Digital media and analytics |
| 2019
|Arcus Media |Medical analytics |
| 2019
|ISO Health |Medical communications company |
| 2019
|Radius Digital Science |Scientific digital creative agency |
| 2020
|Symplur LLC |Social media analytics |
| 2020
|Discern Health |Health Economics and Outcomes Research (HEOR) consulting firm |
| 2020
|Elysia Group LLC |Health Economics and Outcomes Research (HEOR) consulting firm |
| 2020
|21GRAMS |Pharmaceutical marketing agency |
| 2020
|starpower LLC |Entertainment marketing agency |
| 2021
|Swoop, Inc. |Pharmaceutical IT company |
| 2021
|IPM.ai |Data and analytics company |
| 2022
|conversationHEALTH |Pharmaceutical AI company |
| 2023
|TI Health |Predictive analytics company |
Operations and services
Real Chemistry provides marketing and tech-enabled global health services to healthcare and technology companies. The company operated through five subsidiaries: WCG, Twist, Pure, Sentient and Marketeching, but has since unified into Real Chemistry.{{cite web | last=Kanski | first=Alison | title=W2O looks to eliminate confusion with network rebrand | website=PR Week | date=October 24, 2017 | url=https://www.prweek.com/article/1448250 | access-date=October 3, 2019}} WCG was the public relations arm. As of 2012, it was responsible for about 80 percent of the company's revenue. Twist is a 50-person division that initially served largely as a conflict and analytics division.{{cite web | last=Dickson | first=Virgil | title=WCG restructures, creates W2O Group parent company, two sister firms | website=PR Week | date=March 8, 2012 | url=http://www.prweek.com/article/1279868/wcg-restructures-creates-w2o-group-parent-company-two-sister-firms | access-date=December 23, 2015}} The Brewlife division serves the company's startup and emerging technology clientele.
Real Chemistry is the second largest PR firm by revenue in O'Dwyer's annual rankings of U.S. agencies and is the largest in the healthcare sector as of 2023.{{cite news|url=https://www.odwyerpr.com/pr_firm_rankings/independents.htm|newspaper=O'Dwyer's|date=2023|title=Top PR Firms - 2023 Firm Rankings|access-date=June 13, 2023}} More than 90 percent of its revenues are from U.S.-based clients. Healthcare tends to be its fastest growing practice area and was the firm's focus early on, though more recently the analytics practice has taken a larger role.{{cite web | last=Deri. | first=Chris | title=W2O Group Revenues Up 10% To $82.6 Million In 2014 | website=The Holmes Report | date=April 10, 2015 | url=http://www.holmesreport.com/latest/article/w2o-group-revenues-up-10-to-$82.6-million-in-2014 | access-date=December 23, 2015}}
According to PR Week, the company's most-used services include "PR, analytics, and its CCX creative unit." It also started a multicultural practice in early 2015. One of Real Chemistry's software services is MDigitalLife, which stores data on the online activity of doctors and patients. It is used by pharmaceutical companies to understand sentiment in the healthcare field.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{portal|Companies}}
- {{Official website|https://www.realchemistry.com/}}
Category:Public relations companies of the United States
Category:Companies based in San Francisco
Category:American companies established in 2001