
Alchemer, a survey software platform based in Louisville, Colorado, has acquired Apptentive, a Seattle startup that helps mobile app makers gather customer feedback.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Alchemer raised private capital from equity firm KKR & Co. in May.
“Our board of directors and investors are excited about the results and what it means for the next chapter,” CEO and co-founder Robi Ganguly told GeekWire.
Apptentive helps clients like Alaska Airlines, Safeway, and CNN power in-app surveys and rating/review prompts. The startup was ranked #81 on the GeekWire 200. Here is a list of the top privately held startups in the Pacific Northwest.
Apptentive’s technology will be integrated with Alchemer’s platform, giving customers new ways to collect feedback from their mobile customers, and giving Apptentive customers access to Alchemer’s research and workflow products.
Founded in 2006 and formerly known as SurveyGizmo, Alchemer provides business tools for aggregating and analyzing customer and employee feedback. With his 13,000 customers, including big names like Verizon and FedEx.
Ganguly said Apptentive was “sought after” by the acquirer in the integration of its customer experience and “Voice of the Customer” software divisions. He described the company’s latest quarter as “exceptional.”
“Feedback and [customer experience] “It’s becoming more important in what the macroeconomic environment looks like today.” “The days of growth at all costs are over. Today, businesses need to take care of their customers and keep them happy.”
Ganguly joins Alchemer’s executive team, initially as general manager of the mobile business. Most of Apptentive’s employees join her Alchemer.
Ganguly founded Apptentive in 2011 with Sky Kelsey, Mike Saffitz and Andrew Wooster. In 2012 he graduated from Techstars Seattle.
In a blog post announcing the acquisition, Ganguly said, “With mobile phones everywhere, we believe that the best listening vehicle in the world is the one that is always with you. I was there,” he said. “We believed that, thanks to smartphones, every business and every customer could connect in important new ways.”
Apptentive has raised $17 million from investors including Grayhawk Capital. Origin Ventures; Momentive (formerly SurveyMonkey); Founders Cooperative; Golden Ventures; Social Leverage; Cercano Management (formerly Vulcan Capital); It also raised funding from over a dozen Seattle angel investors.