Smilebox

Smilebox provides an online platform for creating and sharing personalized digital products such as slideshows, e-cards, invitations, and collages. The company was established in 2005 by Andrew Wright, a former vice president at RealNetworks. Initially known as Muskoka Media, the Redmond, Washington-based startup secured early-stage venture capital from investors like Bessemer Venture Partners and Frazier Technology Ventures.

The company's core offering is a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solution that enables individual consumers and businesses to transform their photos and videos into animated, shareable creations. Users can select from a wide array of design templates for various occasions, which can be customized with personal photos, text, and music. The platform is accessible via desktop and mobile devices, without requiring a software download. Finished creations can be shared through email, social media, or downloaded as high-resolution files. For businesses, Smilebox offers features to promote their brand by adding logos to professional flyers, slideshows, and cards.

Smilebox operates on a freemium business model. A basic, free membership allows users to personalize and share designs, though these come with advertisements and limited functionality. The primary revenue stream is generated through monthly and annual subscriptions to its premium service. A paid membership unlocks access to a larger library of designs and music, provides ad-free viewing, allows for printing and DVD burning, and offers unlimited storage for created content. In August 2011, Smilebox was acquired by the Israeli technology company IncrediMail, which later rebranded as Perion Network, for an initial cash payment of $25 million with potential for an additional $15 million based on performance milestones. Following the acquisition, Smilebox continued its operations and has been noted as a significant contributor to Perion's revenue growth.

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