Respond.com
Online marketplace that connects purchase-ready consumers to quality local businesses.
| Date | Investors | Amount | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
| investor | €0.0 | round | |
| investor | €0.0 | round | |
$45.0m | Late VC | ||
| Total Funding | 000k | ||
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Respond.com has a multifaceted history, initially established in 1998 in Silicon Valley as a venture-backed online lead generation service connecting consumers with businesses across numerous industries. The platform functioned as a reverse auction site, allowing consumers to anonymously submit requests for products or services, which Respond.com would then forward to its network of registered vendors. This model offered a spam-free method for buyers to receive information and for sellers, even those without a dedicated website, to acquire customers. The company generated revenue by charging vendors monthly listing fees. In 2003, TEOCO acquired Respond.com.
Since 2008, the company has pivoted to focus exclusively on the financial services industry. In its current iteration, Respond.com operates as a digital marketing platform and business referral community. It serves consumers by providing financial guides, calculators, and a free tool to connect with vetted financial advisors. For financial advisors, the platform functions as a source for online lead generation, assisting them in acquiring new customers through performance-based advertising services. The platform supports over 400 service-based project categories, ranging from financial planning to insurance services. It also hosts platforms for industry leaders such as WiserAdvisor.com.
Separately, a Malaysia-based company named Respond.io was founded in 2017 by Gerardo Salandra, Hassan Ahmed, and Iaroslav Kudritskiy. Initially known as Rocketbots, this entity operates as an AI-powered customer conversation management platform. It provides a unified inbox for businesses to manage communications from various channels like WhatsApp, Messenger, and social media, aiming to improve lead generation and customer engagement. This platform targets a wide range of industries including retail, education, and healthcare, offering features like automation, analytics, and integrations with CRM systems like HubSpot and Salesforce. Revenue is generated through a subscription-based model with tiered pricing based on the number of monthly active contacts and users.
Keywords: financial advisor leads, lead generation, digital marketing platform, consumer finance, financial services marketing, client acquisition, referral community, reverse auction, e-commerce history, performance-based advertising, WiserAdvisor, customer conversation management, AI chatbot, omnichannel messaging, social commerce, conversational marketing, lead nurturing, customer engagement software, automated workflows, CRM integration