aSmallWorld

In March 2004, Erik and Louise Wachtmeister founded ASMALLWORLD.{{cite news| url=https://www.forbes.com/2008/05/02/social-networks-vip-tech-personal-cx_nr_0502style.html | title=Five Social Networking Sites Of The Wealthy | work=Forbes | first=Nicola | last=Ruiz | date=May 2, 2008 | url-access=subscription }} It was dubbed "MySpace for millionaires" by The Wall Street Journal. To maintain its desired exclusivity, ASMALLWORLD, while initially free, was invitation-only, open only to those invited by an existing member. In October 2004, the platform had 30,000 users, mostly celebrities, models and bankers between 25 and 35 years old, living in Europe or North America.{{cite magazine| url=http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,725104,00.html | magazine=Time | first=Simon | last=Crittle | title=Clubs for People Who Point and Clique | date=October 17, 2004}} By August 2005, the platform had 68,000 members.{{Cite magazine | url=https://www.wired.com/2005/08/bin-laden-in-hell/ | title=Bin Laden in 'Hell' | magazine=Wired | date=August 1, 2005}}

In May 2006, Harvey Weinstein's The Weinstein Company acquired a majority stake in the platform.{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/12/movies/12movie.html | title=Films From the Weinsteins Falter, but the Brothers Stay Focused | last=Cieply | first=Michael | authorlink=Michael Cieply | work=The New York Times | date=April 12, 2007 | url-access=subscription}} Other investors included former AOL COO Robert W. Pittman, film director Renny Harlin, and entrepreneur Prince Alexander von Fürstenberg.{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/06/fashion/06smallworld.html | work=The New York Times | first=Ruth | last=La Ferla | title=A Facebook for the Few | date=September 6, 2007 | url-access=subscription}}{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/22/technology/22weinstein.html | work=The New York Times | first=Maria | last=Aspan | authorlink=Maria Aspan | title=A Weinstein Will Invest In Exclusivity | date=May 22, 2006 | url-access=subscription}} At the time, ASMALLWORLD had approximately 130,000 members. Harvey Weinstein said his company planned to expand the site's membership and bring in additional advertisers. It was the Weinstein Company's first investment in an Internet company. After launching online advertising in 2006, the website had 100 partners. Advertisers included Jaguar Cars, Diane von Furstenberg, Mercedes-Benz, Cartier, and Moet & Chandon.

In October 2009, Patrick Liotard-Vogt, a Nestlé heir and Swiss investor, purchased a controlling stake in the company, and became its chairman.{{cite news | url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/blogs/company-town-blog/story/2009-10-13/weinstein-co-selling-controlling-stake-in-exclusive-social-networking-site | title=Weinstein Co. selling controlling stake in exclusive social networking site | first=Joe | last=Flint | work=Los Angeles Times | date=October 13, 2009}} Sabine Heller became chief executive officer. At that time, membership was in excess of 500,000 members.{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/17/business/sabine-heller-of-a-small-world-on-teaching-yourself.html | work=The New York Times | first=Adam | last=Bryant | title=Sabine Heller of A Small World, on Teaching Yourself | date=January 16, 2014 | url-access=subscription}}{{cite news | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887324493704578431161984937642 | work=The Wall Street Journal | title=The Social Networker | date=April 26, 2013 | url-access=subscription}}

In July 2012, the company launched a mobile app for iOS.{{cite press release | url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/asmallworld-launches-mobile-application-for-members-worldwide-164258316.html | title=ASMALLWORLD Launches Mobile Application For Members Worldwide | publisher=PR Newswire | date=July 30, 2012}} A mobile app for Android followed.{{cite web | url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.asmallworld.android&hl=en| title=ASMALLWORLD - Apps on Google Play | website=Google Play}}

In February 2013, ASMALLWORLD announced that as of March 1, 2013, it would not be accepting new members, citing an initiative to ensure the integrity of the community.{{cite news | url=https://www.nzz.ch/panorama/a-small-world-wird-noch-kleiner-1.18080128 | title="A Small World" wird noch kleiner | trans-title="A Small World" is getting even smaller | first=Katja | last=Baigger | work=Neue Zürcher Zeitung | date=May 13, 2013 | language=de}}{{cite news | url=https://www.blick.ch/news/wirtschaft/tiger-woods-ist-schon-weg-facebook-fuer-reiche-mistet-aus-id2301102.html | title=Tiger Woods ist schon weg: "Facebook für Reiche" mistet aus – Wirtschaft | trans-title=Tiger Woods is already gone "Facebook for the rich" mucked out | work=Blick |date=May 13, 2013 | language=de}} The company changed its strategy to focus on a smaller network and more perks for its members. After temporarily shutting down, ASMALLWORLD relaunched in May 2013 with a membership model and an advertising-free experience for its members.{{cite news | url=https://wwd.com/business-news/media/a-small-world-maps-new-strategy-6927751/ | title=A Small World Maps New Strategy | first=David | last=Lipke | work=Women's Wear Daily | date=May 10, 2013}}

In March 2013, it acquired The World's Finest Club, which offers exclusive access to clubs worldwide.{{Cite press release | url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20130308005828/en/ASMALLWORLD-Announces-Acquisition-World%E2%80%99s-Finest-Club | title=ASMALLWORLD Announces Acquisition of the World's Finest Club | publisher=Business Wire | date=March 8, 2013}}

In April 2013, the company purged many members from its rolls, reducing its user base from 850,000 to 250,000 members.{{Cite news | url=https://techcrunch.com/2013/05/13/asmallworld-travel-club/ | title="Myspace For Millionaires" ASMALLWORLD Pivots Into A $105 VIP Travel Club | first=Josh | last=Constine | work=TechCrunch | date=May 13, 2013}}{{Cite news | url=https://www.businessinsider.com/asmallworld-goes-to-subscription-model-2013-5 | title=Social Network For The Elite Is Getting Even More Exclusive | first=Julie | last=Zeveloff | work=Business Insider | date=May 13, 2013}}

On March 20, 2018, ASMALLWORLD AG became a public company via an initial public offering on the SIX Swiss Exchange, raising CHF 18 million.{{Cite news | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/asmallworld-ipo/asmallworld-networking-site-to-list-81-mln-shares-on-swiss-bourse-idUSZ8N1P402E | title=ASMALLWORLD networking site to list 8.1 mln shares on Swiss bourse | first=John | last=Miller | work=Reuters | date=March 15, 2018}}{{Cite news | url=https://www.six-group.com/exchanges/news/overview_en.html?id=asmallworld | title=IPO season gets off to a successful start | work=SIX Swiss Exchange | date=March 20, 2018}}{{Cite news | url=https://www.ey.com/Publication/vwLUAssets/ey-news-release-strong-q1-on-ipo-market-including-switzerland/$FILE/ey-news-release-strong-q1-on-ipo-market-including-switzerland.pdf | title=Strong Q1 on IPO market - including Switzerland | first=Karin | last=Mateu | work=Ernst & Young | date=March 27, 2017}}

In September 2018, the company acquired First Class & More International.{{cite news | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/brief-asmallworld-buys-first-class-more-idUSASO0007ZC | title=BRIEF-Asmallworld Buys First Class & More International | work=Reuters | date=September 25, 2018}} In February 2019, the company acquired a UK-based travel agency LuxuryBared and integrated into the ASW app and website, after having invested heavily into technology and team.{{Cite press release | url=https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/eqs-adhoc-asmallworld-ag-acquires-luxurybared-a-travel-booking-platform-specialised-in-luxury-travel-1027915337 | title=EQS-Adhoc: ASMALLWORLD AG: acquires LuxuryBARED, a travel booking platform specialised in luxury travel | publisher=Business Insider | date=February 1, 2019}} In March 2019, ASW Hospitality became the property manager for the North Island, a Luxury Collection Resort, Seychelles, a Marriott International-branded hotel.{{Cite news | url=https://www.hospitalitynet.org/announcement/41002522/north-island-a-luxury-collection-resort-seychelles.html | title=North Island, a Luxury Collection Resort, Seychelles | work=Hospitality Net | date=5 March 2019}} Dario Bertucci was named managing director of ASW Hospitality.{{cite news | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/brief-asmallworld-names-dario-bertucci-m-idUSFWN20U13F | title=BRIEF-Asmallworld Names Dario Bertucci Managing Director Of ASW Hospitality | work=Reuters | date=March 8, 2019}}

• List of social networking websites

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website|https://www.asmallworld.com/}}

Category:Companies listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange

Category:Swiss social networking websites

Category:Internet properties established in 2004