Science Inc.
{{Short description|Startup studio}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2024}}
{{Infobox company
| logo = Science_Inc._logo.png
| type = Privately held company
| industry = Venture capital
| founded = {{Start date and age|2011}} in Los Angeles, US
| hq_location_city = Los Angeles
| hq_location_country = USA
| website = {{URL|science-inc.com}}
}}
Science Inc. is a Los Angeles–based startup studio that invests and offers expertise in corporations, in an attempt to bring them to profitability. In 2011, Michael Jones founded the organization and is the current chief executive officer.{{cite web|last1=Dave|first1=Paresh|title='Start-up studio' Science helps entrepreneurs find a path to profitability|url=http://www.latimes.com/science/la-fi-science-inc-20150730-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times|date=July 30, 2015 |access-date=September 3, 2016}} Jones spent time serving with the company's chief executive officers and investors on strategy, growth, and business development.{{cite web|last1=Benjamin|first1=Kuo|title=Mike Jones On Science Inc.'s First Firms|url=http://www.socaltech.com/mike_jones_on_science_inc__s_first_firms/s-0040927.html|publisher=SoCalTech|access-date=September 3, 2016}}[https://money.cnn.com/interactive/technology/15-questions-with-mike-jones/ "15 Questions with Mike Jones"] CNN Money, May 13, 2015
Funding
Science Inc. initially received $10 million in backing from Eric Schmidt’s Tomorrow Ventures.{{cite web|last1=Rao|first1=Leena|title=Mike Jones Launches Technology Studio, Science Inc., In LA With $10M From Eric Schmidt And Others|url=https://techcrunch.com/2011/11/16/mike-jones-launches-betaworks-like-technology-studio-science-in-la-with-10m-from-eric-schmidt-and-others/|publisher=TechCrunch|access-date=September 3, 2016}} In 2013, Science Inc. raised $30 million in funding from Hearst Ventures, the investment arm of Hearst Corporation,[http://tech.co/hearst-ventures-science-inc-studio-30-million-fund-2013-02 "Hearst Ventures Backs Science Studio With $30 Million Fund"] Tech.Co, February 15, 2015 and was named to Fast Company’s list of The Most Innovative Companies. In 2015, Science Inc. raised $20 million in debt financing from Silver Lake Waterman.[http://fortune.com/2015/02/18/exclusive-startup-studio-science-raises-20-million-from-silver-lake/ "Startup studio Science Inc. raises $20 million from Silver Lake"] Fortune, February 18, 2015
Notable affiliated companies
=Dollar Shave Club=
Dollar Shave Club launched with early investments and support from Science Inc.{{cite web|last1=Kozlowski|first1=Lori|title=Science, Dollar Shave Club, And Life|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/lorikozlowski/2012/04/25/science-dollar-shave-club-and-life/#7065b84637b0|work=Forbes|access-date=September 3, 2016}} Science Inc. was Dollar Shave Club's first investor, before the startup raised a $1 million seed round in March 2012.[http://labusinessjournal.com/news/2015/jun/28/incubator-turns-heat-additional-services/?page=2 "Science Incubator Turns Up the Heat With New Services"] LA Business Journal, June 28, 2015{{cite news|title=A David and Gillette Story|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303624004577338103789934144 |work=Wall Street Journal|date=April 12, 2012 |access-date=2012-09-12 |first=Emily |last=Glazer}}{{cite news|title=Dollar Shave Club: A Start-Up's Viral Ad for 'F***ing Great' Razors Is a Big Hit|url=https://business.time.com/2012/03/12/dollar-shave-club-a-start-ups-viral-ad-for-fing-great-razors-is-a-big-hit/|work=Time|date=March 12, 2012|access-date=2012-03-19}}{{cite news|last=Colao|first=J.J.|title=Dollar Shave Club: Breaking The Razor Blade Monopoly|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jjcolao/2012/04/03/dollar-shave-club-breaking-the-razor-blade-monopoly/|work=Forbes|access-date=April 30, 2014}}[http://forward.com/news/345639/jewish-buddies-who-founded-dollar-shave-club-cash-in-with-1b-unilever-deal/ Jewish Daily Forward: "Jewish Buddies Who Founded Dollar Shave Club Cash In With $1B Unilever Deal" by Laura E. Adkins] July 20, 2016 It was acquired by Unilever in 2016.[http://fortune.com/2016/07/19/unilever-buys-dollar-shave-club-for-1-billion/ Fortune: "Unilever Buys Dollar Shave Club for $1 Billion" by Dan Primack] July 19, 2016
=DogVacay=
Initial funding for DogVacay was obtained from Science Inc.{{cite news | last =O’Dell | first =Jolie | title =Just In Time For SXSW, Dog Vacay Will Help You Find A Home-Based Dog Sitter | newspaper =Venture Beat| date =March 1, 2012| url =https://venturebeat.com/2012/03/01/dog-vacay/ | access-date =March 20, 2013 }} DogVacay is a Santa Monica-based company known for home dog boarding and other pet services.
=HelloSociety=
Science Inc. funded an incubated HelloSociety, a social media marketing and technology firm that consults on strategic partnerships with influencers and market analytics.{{cite web | url = https://thenextweb.com/insider/2013/04/02/science-inc-backed-helloinsights-becomes-hellosociety-a-pinterest-marketing-agency-for-brands/ | title = Science Inc.-backed HelloInsights becomes HelloSociety, a Pinterest marketing agency for brands | date = April 2, 2013 | access-date= October 8, 2013}} The company was purchased by The New York Times in March 2016.{{cite web|url=http://www.labusinessjournal.com/news/2016/mar/11/new-york-times-buys-hellosociety-social-media-agen/|title=New York Times Buys HelloSociety, A Social Media Agency |publisher=labusinessjournal.com |date=March 11, 2016 |access-date=2016-03-11}}{{cite news|last1=Ha|first1=Anthony|title=The New York Times acquires influencer marketing agency HelloSociety|url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/03/11/new-york-times-acquires-hellosociety/|access-date=August 27, 2016|publisher=TechCrunch}}
= Plowz and Mowz =
In 2016, Science Inc. became one of the first investors in Plowz & Mowz, a gig-marketplace website and app that connects consumers with freelance landscapers. The company began by offering residential snow plowing services and has since expanded its scope to lawn mowing and over a dozen other outdoor home services.{{Cite web|title=Plowz and Mowz raise $1.5 million from LA-based Science for on-demand landscaping services|url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/08/26/plowz-and-mowz-raise-1-5-million-from-la-based-science-for-on-demand-landscaping-services/|access-date=2021-04-29|website=TechCrunch|language=en-US}}
=Other=
Other startups that have come from Science Inc. include HomeHero, FameBit, Hello.Me, Stunner Inc., Delicious,[http://www.socaltech.com/science_inc_to_buy_social_bookmarking_site_delicious/s-0054941.html "Science Inc. to buy Social Bookmarking Site Delicious"] Social Tech, May 8, 2014 PlayHaven,[https://techcrunch.com/2014/09/24/science-inc-acquires-playhaven/ "Science Inc. Acquires Mobile Ad Network PlayHaven From Upsight"] TechCrunch, September 24, 2014 Kyoku,{{Cite web|url=https://www.science-inc.com/portfolio.html|website=www.science-inc.com|access-date=2020-02-14|title=Science }} Wishbone,[https://venturebeat.com/2015/09/30/with-3-1m-monthly-users-on-wishbone-science-touts-its-success-reaching-the-teen-market/ "With 3.1M monthly users on Wishbone, Science touts its success reaching the teen market"] Venture Beat, September 30, 2015 and Quarterly. In 2015, Science Inc. sold off its mobile advertising network PlayHaven to mobile game publisher RockYou.{{cite web |last1=Reim |first1=Garrett |date=May 7, 2015 |title=Science Inc. Sells Off Mobile Ad Network PlayHaven |url=http://labusinessjournal.com/news/2015/may/07/science-inc-sells-mobile-ad-network-playhaven/ |access-date=September 3, 2016 |publisher=Los Angeles Business Journal}} In 2016, FameBit was acquired by Google.[https://www.wsj.com/articles/google-acquires-famebit-to-increase-branded-content-deals-1476222631/ Wall Street Journal, "Google Acquires FameBit to Increase Branded Content Deals"] October 11, 2016