Socialize

Founded in 2008 by Daniel R Odio, Socialize, Inc. operated as a developer of mobile applications and websites for businesses globally. The San Francisco-based company, formerly known as PointAbout, provided a suite of products that included enterprise mobile development and AppMakr, a do-it-yourself platform that enabled non-developers to build native mobile apps for various operating systems.

The company's core offering evolved to focus on "Socialize," a cloud-based service distributed via APIs and SDKs specifically for mobile integration. This product was designed to help app developers leverage their existing user base for marketing purposes. By integrating Socialize, developers could turn user social actions into a mechanism for driving new downloads and increasing re-engagement. The service aimed to convert an application's users into an effective marketing force, with the company reporting that integrated apps could see a significant increase in user installations and media impressions.

The business model centered on providing this social layer as a service to mobile app developers, who were its primary clients. The platform served the mobile application market by offering tools to enhance viral growth and user activity. Over its lifetime as an independent entity, the company successfully raised $21.8 million in funding from 14 different investors. In a significant milestone, Socialize, Inc. was acquired by ShareThis on March 20, 2013, marking a successful exit for the venture-backed firm.

Keywords: mobile app development, user acquisition, social integration, API, SDK, app marketing, user engagement, PointAbout, viral marketing, ShareThis