Spiceworks

Spiceworks operates as a professional network and marketplace tailored for the information technology (IT) industry. It was established in January 2006 by Scott Abel, Jay Hallberg, Greg Kattawar, and Francis Sullivan, all of whom were former executives at Motive. The founders, having previously worked together, brought a disciplined approach to validating their business idea, which revolved around simplifying network administration for IT professionals in small-to-medium-sized businesses.

The company's core offering is a suite of free IT management tools and a vibrant online community. These tools include a Cloud Help Desk for ticket management, network monitoring, and inventory management software. The platform is designed to help IT professionals discover, adopt, and manage technology more effectively by providing a space for collaboration, advice-seeking, and problem-solving. The community serves as a key feature, connecting millions of IT professionals with their peers and over 3,000 technology vendors.

Spiceworks' business model is primarily supported by advertising revenue from technology vendors who wish to market their products and services to the platform's highly targeted user base. A smaller portion of its revenue comes from purchases made through the Spiceworks marketplace. While the main software tools are free, the company has also explored premium offerings, such as a paid subscription version of its cloud help desk software launched in 2025. This freemium approach allows the company to cater to a broad audience while generating steady income.

Significant milestones in the company's history include securing multiple rounds of venture capital funding, totaling $111 million from investors like Austin Ventures, Shasta Ventures, Institutional Venture Partners, and Goldman Sachs. In September 2019, Spiceworks was acquired by Ziff Davis B2B, a division of J2 Global. This acquisition aimed to merge Ziff Davis's marketing expertise with Spiceworks' community insights. Following the acquisition, the combined entity, known as Spiceworks Ziff Davis (SWZD), continued to expand, acquiring Aberdeen, a provider of behavioral-based marketing solutions, in 2020.

Keywords: IT management platform, professional network, help desk software, network monitoring, asset management, IT community, tech marketplace, Ziff Davis, B2B marketing, IT support tools, cloud help desk, SMB IT solutions, tech vendor advertising, lead generation, market intelligence, IT professionals, system administration, ticket management, Spiceworks Ziff Davis, SWZD