6 Cool Tech Acquisitions for 2012

6 6 C0OL TECH These days, it doesn't take long for a successful tech company to get acquired by a bigger player. ACQUISITIONS FOR 2012 Below are a few cool takeovers from this year where each acquirer (Pac-Man) paid (ate a power pellet) to acquire the target (Om Nom Nom Nom the ghost). followerwonk KIVA Systems salesfo BUDDYIHIMEDIA #1 Facebook + Instagram #2 Amazon + Kiva Systems nsta ama KIVA Systems Date Acquired: Sep 6, 2012 Cost: $1 billion USD (approx.) Why It'll Work: Both websites pander to the need for self-expression, and are a hit with the tech generation. Facebook • has stated that it is keen for Instagram to grow independently, so Instagram's winning formula isn't likely to be diluted. Date Acquired: March 19, 2012 Cost: $775 million USD Why It'll Work: Amazon are hoping to improve their margins by reducing spending on warehouse processing. Having an automated warehouse system will hopefully make the business more efficient. And those orange bots are pretty nifty. Apart from a Terminator-esque Rise of the Machines, what could go wrong? #3 Salesforce + Buddy Media #4 Google + Wildfire sal BUDDYMEDIA Date Acquired: May 2012 Cost: $689 million USD Date Acquired: July 2012 Cost: $250 million USD Why • think Google has a pretty good idea of what to put their money behind. As social media continues to explode, there will be an increased demand for the kind of service Widfire provides. I Work: With all the research power in the world, you'd Why It'll Work: Salesforce has gone on an absolute frenzy of acquisitions lately, collecting companies like Sonic collects coins. With another piece to the social marketing puzzle, they look to almost have the picture complete. #5 Linkedin + Slideshare #6 SEOmoz + Followerwonk CA followerwonk Date Acquired: March 3, 2012 Cost: $119 million USD Why It'll Work: Both websites have a clear emphasis on professional networking and development. With an opportunity for greater linking (pun intended) between the two, this acquisition has the potential to greatly enrich online communication between professionals. Date Acquired: August 15, 2012 Cost: $1-4 million USD Why It'll Work: Followerwonk is another exceptional tool to add to SEOmoz's smorgasbord of SEO software. By allowing users to search blos, compare users, analyse, track and sort followers, Followerwonk Is a sure fire way to success. Sources: Produced by: •mashable.com/2012/09/06/facebook-instagram-acquisition-complete/ * news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57480931-93/instagram-passes-80-million-users/ » bloomberg.com/news/2012-03-19/amazon-acquires-kiva-systems-in-second-biggest-takeover.html dealbook.nytimes.com/2012/03/19/amazon-com-buys-kiva-systems-for-775-million/ •mashable.com/2012/06/04/salesforce-acquires-buddy-media/ mashable.com/2012/07/31/google-acquires-wildfire/ • techcrunch.com/2012/05/03/linkedin-acquires-professional-content-sharing-platform-slideshare-for-119m/ • socialmediadelivered.com/2012/05/09/linkedins-recent-acquisition-of-slideshare-a-winning-match/ feld.com/wp/archives/2012/08/seomoz-acquires-followerwonk-a-perfect-small-acquisition.html KWASI STUDIOS websites for robots & humans