Partnered

Partnered operates as a business-to-business platform focused on partner relationship management, connecting brands with startups for mutual growth. Founded in 2012 by Baldwin Cunningham and Cullen Wilson, the San Francisco-based company initially launched under the name Sponsorfied before rebranding. The firm participated in the Y Combinator accelerator program during the summer of 2012, an early milestone that helped shape its trajectory.

The company's core offering is a cloud-based platform designed to automate and manage business development and sales collaborations between channel partners. Its software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution provides features like account-based networking, revenue intelligence, and automated follow-ups to streamline how businesses engage with their partners. The platform's primary function is to help sales teams discover and connect with partners who have established relationships with their target prospects, facilitating valuable introductions and strategic information sharing. By providing actionable data, the service aims to help clients find new leads and shorten sales cycles. The business model is centered on B2B clients in the media, information services, and general business software sectors.

Partnered secured a total of $948K in funding over two rounds, including a notable seed round in July 2014 that raised $850K with participation from investors like Comcast Ventures, ACME, and Crosslink Capital. On May 18, 2022, the company was acquired by Crossbeam, a prominent player in the partner ecosystem platform space, marking a significant exit for the venture.

Keywords: partner relationship management, B2B platform, sales collaboration, channel partners, revenue intelligence, account-based networking, business development automation, lead generation, partner ecosystem, SaaS