BlueKai is a data-management company that helps companies unify and activate their data to help customers execute more-effective campaigns across digital-advertising channels.
Background:
Marketing-tech and data company BlueKai was founded by entrepreneurs Omar Tawakol, Alexander Hooshmand and Grant Ries. The company’s products became popular as the online advertising industry became more digitized and data driven. BlueKai helps companies leverage data to drive more personalized and contextual advertising to win over relevant audiences, and also optimize their ad spending.
Battery’s Impact:
Battery led the Series B funding round in BlueKai in 2008. The firm helped BlueKai:
- Recruit a well-rounded leadership team;
- Hone product strategy and go-to-market execution, including product pricing;
- Meet new customers through Battery introductions; and
- Manage company financing. Ultimately Battery also provided counsel to the company around its acquisition by Oracle, a complex exit situation that involved multiple bidders.
Outcomes:
BlueKai was acquired by Oracle in 2014.
The presented case study investment was made in particular economic and market conditions. There can be no assurance that Battery Venture would elect, or be able, to exploit similar opportunities in a similar manner under similar or different economic and market conditions. More generally, there can be no assurances that the Battery vehicles will have comparable investment opportunities in the future. No assumptions should be made that any investments identified above were profitable. It should not be assumed that recommendations made in the future will be profitable or comparable to the portfolio company described in this case study. For a full list of all Battery Ventures investments, please click here.
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