Spiceworks

Spiceworks
Private
Industry Computer software
Founded 2006
Headquarters Austin, Texas, United States
Products Spiceworks IT Desktop
Website www.spiceworks.com

Spiceworks is a professional network for the information technology (IT) industry that is headquartered in Austin, Texas.[1][2][3] The company was founded in January 2006 by Scott Abel, Jay Hallberg, Greg Kattawar, and Francis Sullivan to build IT management software.[2][4]

Spiceworks is an online community where users can collaborate and seek advice from one another, and also engage in a marketplace to purchase IT-related services and products.[5] The network is estimated to be used by more than six million IT professionals and 3,000 technology vendors.[6]

The company's free proprietary software is written in Ruby on Rails,[7] and runs exclusively on Microsoft Windows.[8] The software discovers IP-addressable devices and includes help desk functionality and an integrated knowledge base.[9]

History

Founding

The company was formed in January 2006 by Scott Abel, Jay Hallberg, Greg Kattawar and Francis Sullivan,[3] former executives at Motive.[4][10][11]The group had originally gathered in 2005, envisioning a social methodology in which to do IT.

Funding

The company received $5 million in series A funding from Austin Ventures in June 2006.[12] Spiceworks' series B funding round was completed in August 2007 and included $8 million from Shasta Ventures and Austin Ventures.[13] The company's $18 million series C funding round in January 2010 was headed by Institutional Venture Partners.[14] In April 2011, Spiceworks received $25 million in series D funding from Adams Street Partners and Tenaya Capital[15] and a 2014 series E financing round worth $57 million led by Goldman Sachs.[5]

Software

In July 2006, it released a public beta.[12] The 1.0 version of Spiceworks was released in November 2006.[16] It focussed on simplifying the process of taking inventory, monitoring networks, and generating reports for IT professionals at small and medium-sized businesses.[4][12] By the end of its first year, Spiceworks had 120,000 users.[17]

The company released the 2.0 version of its software in December 2007.[18] Subsequent versions followed, leading up to version 7.0 in 2013.[19] The company released a free network monitor product in December 2014.[20]

European expansion

In 2012, it opened its European headquarters in London, England.[21]

Tenth anniversary

The company celebrated its tenth anniversary in January 2016 and announced plans to add 100 additional employees during the year.[22] However, those plans were changed and in June 2016 the company announced that it was laying off approximately 12 percent of its workforce.[23] In addition to the layoffs, several employees in leadership positions at Spiceworks left the company to join former CEO Scott Abel in founding a new startup, Resly Labs.[24][25] Resly Labs later changed their name to Umuse.

Business model

Spiceworks offers its professional network and software free to users.[1][11][26] The company generates most of its revenue through the sale of ads displayed on its network.[1] A small percentage of its revenue is generated through purchases of IT products and services made through the Spiceworks platform.[5] The platform also includes premium features, which are available for purchase.[5]

Corporate identity

Mascot

The official mascot for Spicework is "SpiceRex."[27] SpiceRex is an orange Tyranosaurus Rex. The creation was a result of Spiceworks community member, IT pro, and blogger Andy "akp982" Phelps.[28]

Spiceworld

Austin

Spiceworks has hosted SpiceWorld, a conference for its users, every year since 2008.[11][29] The conference was originally held at the Alamo Drafthouse movie theater.[29] The conference later moved to the AT&T Executive Education & Conference Center at the University of Texas. Starting with SpiceWorld 2013 and on, the conferences have been held at the Austin Convention Center.[29][30]

London

With a growing international community, Spiceworks opened up a London office in 2012. The first SpiceWorld London took place in May 2012 in Vinopolis in London's Bankside.[31]

Awards and recognition

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Hawkins, Lori (4 February 2014). "Austin firm gets big boost: Tech firm gets new backers". Austin American-Statesman. Austin, TX.
  2. 1 2 Ben Pimentel (10 February 2014). "Introducing Spiceworks: A social network for techies, IT professionals". MarketWatch. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  3. 1 2 AMY MCCULLOUGH (3 February 2014). "Spiceworks Pioneers the Social Way to Do IT and Gets $57 Million Funding". Silicon Hills. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 Denise Dubie (21 July 2006). "Start-up offers free management tool – with a Google twist". Network World. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Eric Blattberg (3 February 2014). "Spiceworks scores $57M to reach the next 5 million IT pros". VentureBeat. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  6. ↑ Ken Hess (September 29, 2014). "It's unanimous: The Spiceworks App Center is a hit". ZDNet. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
  7. ↑ Justin James (4 December 2006). "Spiceworks: Rapid Ruby, Customer Focus, and Starting a Company". Tech Republic.
  8. ↑ "Welcome to the Spiceworks Community: Spiceworks Requirements". Spiceworks.
  9. ↑ How the scan works "Welcome to the Spiceworks Community: Help and Documentation" Check |url= value (help). Spiceworks.
  10. ↑ Klint Finley (5 November 2012). "Spiceworks Woos IT Admins With Free Everything". Wired. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  11. 1 2 3 Susanna Hamner (5 March 2009). "Reaching Tech Folks on Their Turf". New York Times. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  12. 1 2 3 Thomas Claburn (25 July 2006). "Spiceworks Introduces Free, Ad-Supported IT Management Software". UBM Tech, InformationWeek. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  13. ↑ Nick Gonzalez (27 August 2007). "SpiceWorks Raises $8 Million; Google Adsense Even Supports IT Software". Tech Crunch. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  14. ↑ Leena Rao (11 January 2010). "Spiceworks Is Becoming The Facebook For IT Managers; Raises $16 Million Series C". Tech Crunch. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  15. ↑ Christopher Calnan (28 April 2011). "Spiceworks snags $25M to expand network". Austin Business Journal. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  16. ↑ "Spiceworks Launches Version 1.0 of Free IT Management Software for Small and Medium Businesses". Business Wire. 6 November 2006.
  17. ↑ Ladendorf, Kirk (28 August 2007). "Austin firm Spiceworks raises $8 million in venture funds". Austin American-Statesman.
  18. ↑ "Spiceworks 2.0". Unofficial Spiceworks. December 2007. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  19. ↑ "Spiceworks 7.0 Release Notes". Spiceworks. 2014. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  20. ↑ Adrian Bridgwater (December 17, 2014). "Spiceworks free Network Monitor system health check". Computer Weekly. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
  21. ↑ Rushton, Katherine (4 February 2014). "Facebook for IT staff' raises $57m ahead of possible IPO; Spiceworks to invest in increasing its audience from 5m users every month, before embarking on the likely flotation". Telegraph.
  22. ↑ lalorek. "Spiceworks Turns 10 and Plans to Add 100 Employees This Year". Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  23. ↑ lalorek. "Spiceworks Cuts 12 Percent of its Workforce". Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  24. ↑ Inc, Umuse. "Umuse: Making work simple again.". Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  25. ↑ "Portfolio". Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  26. ↑ VAUHINI VARA (27 March 2007). "Companies Tolerate Ads to Get Free Software". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  27. ↑ Amy McCullough (February 3, 2014). "Spiceworks Pioneers the Social Way to Do IT and Gets $57 Million Funding". Silicon Hills. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  28. ↑ Jennifer Slaski (June 1,2010). "Meet SpiceRex: Your New Best Friend (& IT Comrade)!". Spiceworks. Retrieved April 30,2017. Check date values in: |access-date=, |date= (help)
  29. 1 2 3 Christopher Calnan (30 October 2013). "Spiceworks' global influence on display at SpiceWorld in Austin". Austin Business Journal. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  30. ↑ Susan Lahey (September 25, 2014). "SpiceWorld App Center Announced at Austin Conference". Silicon Hills. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
  31. ↑ Sophie Curtis (1 December 2011). "Spiceworks to open European headquarters in London". Tech World. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  32. ↑ "Spiceworks 1.5". Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  33. ↑ Spiceworks named IT Solution of the Year – AllBusiness.com
  34. ↑ "Spiceworks Named InformationWeek Startup 50 Company - @CloudExpo". Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  35. ↑ Limited, Elemental Communications. "Press Releases - Spiceworks Named Top 10 B-to-B Web Site by BtoB Magazine". Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  36. ↑ "Spiceworks Wins PCMag.com Best of 2010 Award - Business Wire". Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  37. ↑ "Spiceworks Wins Six Windows IT Pro Editors’ Best and Community Choice Awards". Retrieved 6 November 2016.
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