Skout

Skout
Private
Industry Software development
Founded (2007)
Founder
  • Christian Wiklund
  • Niklas Lindstrom
Headquarters San Francisco, United States
Key people
  • Christian Wiklund, (CEO)
  • Niklas Lindstrom, (CTO)
Products
  • Skout
  • Fuse
  • Nixter
Website skout.com

Skout is the developer of a location-based social networking and dating application and website. Skout was one of the first dating and mobile people discovery applications to emphasize generalized user location.[1] Skout is available on both iOS and Android operating systems. Other Skout properties include Nixter, a nightlife app,[2] and Fuse, an ephemeral group messaging app.[3] Skout reported that over 500 million connections were made using its app in 2013.[4]

Skout uses a cellphone's global positioning system to help users to find other users within a general radius of one another.[5] Skout does not identify a user's precise location, and users can choose to opt out of the location-tracking features of the app.[6] GPS location is only enabled in the adult community. While searching for people, users can view the profile and recent activities of others that they find interesting.[1] The application also allows users to instant message or send virtual gifts to one another.[7] The company segregates its adult and teen communities.[8] Skout is available in 180 countries and 14 languages.[4]

Skout has a travel feature that allows users to meet people in another city while traveling.[9] Skout Travel is a premium paid feature.[9] Another feature available on Skout is "Shake to Chat."[10] Shake to Chat connects users to others who are shaking their phones at the same time.[10] User profiles are anonymous for 40 seconds after the Shake to Chat conversation begins.[11]

History

The service was founded as a mobile web social network in 2007 by Christian Wiklund and Niklas Lindstrom.[12] The two, Skout's chief executive officer and chief technology officer respectively, relaunched the network in 2009 as a dating and people discovery application and website after recognizing over 80% of the site's users were using it as a dating platform.[7] Skout launched its iOS application in February 2009 at the 2009 DEMO conference.[13] At the time, Skout was available for users on non-iOS mobile internet devices through its website.[7] Skout's Android app launched in August 2010.[14]

Skout raised $22 million in venture capital from Andreessen Horowitz in April 2012.[12] Prior to this investment, Skout had raised a collective $4.6 million in angel investment.[12] In June 2012, Skout suspended its service for minors, after three separate incidents in which minors were allegedly raped by adults posing as teenagers.[15] It later resumed its services for teenagers in July 2012 with after introducing additional safety measures.[16]

In May 2014, the company acquired nightlifeapp Nixter, a nightlife app.[2] Nixter allows users to find nightlife events, buy tickets, and see guest lists for events in New York City, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.[2] Skout launched Fuse, an app that gives users tools to construct their own social network that functions off the address book on their smartphone or tablet, in June 2014.[17] Fuse is available globally.

Funding

Skout has received $22 million in investment from Andreessen Horowitz and has been funded by early-stage investors including Janice Brandt, former vice chair of AOL; Jarl Mohn, founding president and CEO of Liberty Digital; and Hans Akerblom, founder and chair of Scandinavian Leadership AB.[12] The board of directors includes, in addition to the founders, Stan Chudvosky, Scott Weiss, Herbert Madan and Board Observer Marc Andresseen. Skout reported that it became profitable in December 2013.[4]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 JP Manninen (2 July 2010). "One million singles sign up for Skout dating app". VentureBeat. Retrieved 5 July 2014.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Kim-Mai Cutler (5 May 2014). "Mobile Social Networking App Skout Acquires Nightlife App Nixter". TechCrunch. Retrieved 5 July 2014.
  3. ↑ Kim-Mai Cutler (19 June 2014). "Skout Launches Fuse, An Ephemeral Messaging App That Makes Group Chats Explode". TechCrunch. Retrieved 5 July 2014.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Dylan Tweney (2 May 2014). "These nerds want to put your bored ass in a hot nightclub". VentureBeat. Retrieved 5 July 2014.
  5. ↑ Rosenbloom, Stephanie (21 July 2010). "The New Dating Tools: A Card and a Wink". The New York Times.
  6. ↑ Robin Wauters (3 April 2012). "Location-based flirting app Skout hooks up with Andreessen Horowitz, scores $22 million". The Next Web. Retrieved 5 July 2014.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 MG Siegler (21 January 2009). "Skout brings location-based dating to the iPhone". VentureBeat. Retrieved 5 July 2014.
  8. ↑ Jessica Guynn (12 July 2012). "Skout CEO Christian Wiklund: Mobile app to reopen safer for teens". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 5 July 2014.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Kim-Mai Cutler (6 September 2013). "With 3X The Active Users From A Year Ago, Skout Launches A Feature For Traveling Vagabonds". TechCrunch. Retrieved 5 July 2014.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Ellen Lee (25 March 2013). "Skout introduces people via smartphone". SFGate. Retrieved 5 July 2014.
  11. ↑ "Shake to Chat in iOS update – 3.2". The Skout Blog. 31 October 2012. Retrieved 5 July 2014.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 Patrick Hoge (3 April 2012). "Skout finds a way through tough times". San Francisco Business Times. Retrieved 5 July 2014.
  13. ↑ DEMO 2009 Wraps Up. BusinessWeek (2009-03-04). Retrieved on 2013-07-30.
  14. ↑ Emory Kale (2 August 2010). "GPS killer app: stalking, er, I mean flirting". TG Daily. Retrieved 5 July 2014.
  15. ↑ Perlroth, Nicole (12 June 2012). "After Rapes Involving Children, Skout, a Flirting App, Bans Minors". The New York Times. Retrieved 13 June 2012.
  16. ↑ "Blog update".
  17. ↑ Richard Bern Reilly, Venture Beat."/ Skout launches Fuse, a funky mobile network for people on the go."June 19, 2014. Retrieved June 19, 2104.

External links