oneforty

Oneforty operated as a curated discovery platform for the burgeoning Twitter application ecosystem, effectively functioning as an "App Store for Twitter." Founded in 2009 by Laura Fitton, the Cambridge, Massachusetts-based company aimed to simplify the process for businesses and individuals to find and evaluate third-party tools that could enhance their use of the Twitter platform. Fitton, a Cornell University graduate and co-author of "Twitter for Dummies," recognized early on the potential for a vast marketplace of applications built on Twitter's API and created Oneforty to serve this need. Her background as a consultant on Twitter for business, through her firm Pistachio Consulting, provided deep insight into the challenges users faced, positioning her to create a solution.

The company's primary offering was a comprehensive directory where users could find, rate, and review a wide array of Twitter-related applications. This user-generated feedback mechanism was central to the platform's value, helping clients navigate the thousands of available tools to find those best suited for their specific business or personal objectives. In addition to the app directory, Oneforty developed SocialBase, a social media management platform designed to help businesses organize their social media marketing efforts. The business model centered on being a central hub and comparison engine, providing clarity in a chaotic market and likely generating revenue through premium listings or enterprise-level tools like SocialBase. The platform served a B2B market of marketers, social media managers, and agencies looking to optimize their social media strategy.

Oneforty secured $1.98 million in a Series A funding round in December 2009, with investors including Flybridge Capital Partners and 500 Global. The company's trajectory culminated in its acquisition by HubSpot in August 2011. Following the acquisition, the Oneforty team, including Fitton, joined HubSpot. The app directory was merged into the HubSpot App Marketplace, and features from SocialBase were integrated into HubSpot's core marketing software, marking the successful exit and integration of Oneforty's vision into a larger inbound marketing ecosystem.

Keywords: Twitter tools, app directory, social media applications, Laura Fitton, Twitter for business, social media marketing, app marketplace, HubSpot acquisition, SocialBase, Twitter ecosystem, social tool discovery, application ratings, social media management, Flybridge Capital Partners, B2B social media, marketing technology, social business hub, Twitter API, app comparison, social media analytics