Movile (company)

Movile
Private
Industry Internet
Computer software
Telecoms equipment
Founded 1998 (1998)
Founder Fabricio Bloisi & Eduardo Henrique
Headquarters Campinas, SP, Brazil
Number of employees
 1600
Website movile.com

Movile is headquartered in Campinas, Brazil with operations in several markets such as Argentina, Peru, Chile, Colombia, France, Mexico and United States. Movile operates in the segments of mobile content, food ordering and delivery, ticketing, and logistics.

History

In 1998, Fabricio Bloisi founded a startup that would later become Brazil’s Movile, a global leader in mobile marketplaces.

In its early stage, Movile focused on innovating and exploring advanced technologies, mobile devices, text messages using the Short Message Service (SMS) standard and the first chat through SMS. In the beginning, the company to enabled ringtone commerce in Brazil, as well as the development of the country’s first Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) search portal. Movile was also the first company in Latin America to send images through the Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) standard.

In 2007, Bloisi focused on expansion. In 2008, and Movile built itself into the largest company in the Latin American mobile commerce industry through merges and acquisitions with companies like Yavox and Cyclelogic establishing a presence in over ten countries with offices in Argentina, Peru, Colombia and Mexico.

In 2012, the team started operations in Silicon Valley.[1]

The team started investing in new startups in the Brazilian market, and also started to develop mobile apps for Google Play and Apple App Store resulting in the creation of PlayKids, and also became the main shareholder of iFood, a food delivery service in Latin America.

According to Great Place to Work,[2] Movile was considered one of the best companies to work for in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016. Currently, the company has over 1,500 employees in 15 offices, in seven countries: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, France, Mexico, Peru and United States. Movile’s personal management initiative, Jeito Moviliano, was launched in 2011.

Timeline

1998-2010: Early Years

Movile was originally named Intraweb and was founded in 1998 by two former Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp) students, Fabricio Bloisi & Eduardo Henrique, in the city of Campinas. The start-up Intraweb was organized through the University's corporate incubator. The initial purpose was to create corporate Intranets.

In 2001, Intraweb was absorbed by the GoWap website, the first company to receive a capital contribution by Rio Bravo Investimentos. This was the birth of GoWapCorp, a company in the field of corporate market data solutions by mean of cell phones.

In 2002, GoWapCorp was the subject of a capital outlay by 'Rio Bravo' and changed its name to Compera.

During 2003 and 2004, the company changed its business model, shifting from software to service provision.[3] Focus was transferred from the corporate market to concessionaires and end customers, with services such as cell phone video, games and music.

In 2007, Compera merged with nTime, a cell phone service company in Rio de Janeiro, creating ComperanTime.[4] In that same year, the mobile marketing company Movile was acquired.

In 2008, MIH Holdings, from the Naspers South African media group, acquired the interest held by Rio Bravo in ComperanTime.[5] and became the company's minority shareholder.

In 2009, ComperanTime announced its merger with Yavox.[6] Following these discussions, Yavox became ComperanTime's wholly owned subsidiary, but both companies and their respective trade marks were to go on existing separately for several months more.

2010-2014: Rebranding and Expansion

In 2010, following an extended market research period, ComperanTimeYavox decided to change its name to Movile.[7] Jointly with this new trade mark, a change in strategy also took place. Movile's key focus turned to digital inclusion by means of mobile services in emerging countries. During that same year Movile and Cyclelogic announced the merger of their operations in Latin America.[8]

In 2012, Movile opened its first offices in the United States[9] (in Silicon Valley, California) and concentrated its business strategy on that country's Latino market.[10]

By 2013, Movile invested $1.6 million in the startup iFood[11] and broadened the scope and number of orders by creating a smartphone application like PlayKids app release – considered to be the Children's Netflix.[12] The PlayKids app stood out during the year at Apple Store [13] and Google Play.[14] Between 2012 and 2013, Movile was part of Brazil's best IT and Telecomm companies to work in. A survey held by the Great Place to Work Institute [15] institute jointly with Computerworld[16] magazine.

2014 marked a big year for expansion. There an additional $2 million investment in iFood.[17] PlayKids arrives in 24 countries: Spain, France, USA, Australia, UK, Canada, among others.[18] Movile's new investment in iFood app leads to the purchase of a competitor Central Delivery.[19] Movile and Accelerator 21212 invest R$1.15 million in Superplayer.[20] Movile raises $55 million (Series D) from Innova Capital, Jorge Paulo Lemann, and FINEP.[21] This new round of financing led to the acquisitions of Rapiddo,[22] ChefTime,[23] and FreshTime with investments in LBS Local[24] (owners of Apontador, MapLink, and Cinepapaya) and TruckPad.

2015-Present: Continued Investment & Growth into a Mobile Platform

2015 started out strong for Movie with a mid-year investment of $40M (Series E) from Naspers and Innova Capital.[25] Movile then invested $50 million into iFood and Just Eat[26] along with a $15 million investment in PlayKids[27] for China and Japan expansion.

In 2016, Rapiddo acquires on-demand courier service 99Motos.[28] PlayKids expands with content from Sesame Street[29] and additional apps—PlayKids Talk, PlayKids Stories and PlayKids Party. iFood purchases San Francisco-based, online food delivery service, SpoonRocket’s technology,[30] to expand their reach into additional restaurants in Latin America. Movile invests in Sympla,[31] a 'do it yourself' ticketing platform for events and Sympla acquires Eventik to expand their presence in ticking. Movile then raises an additional $40 million (Series F) from Naspers and Innova Capital.[32]

2017 saw an additional funding round of $53 million (Series G) from Naspers and Innova Capital.[33]

Businesses and Brands

PlayKids

PlayKids was created in 2013 as a streaming-video-on-demand app (SVOD) for children 5 and under. Initially launched in more than 20 countries across Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia and featured original content, as well as content from a range of broadcasters, including DHX Media, PBS and the Jim Henson Company. In 2016, PlayKids expanded with content from Sesame Street and additional apps, as Stories and Party. Today, PlayKids became an education platform, helping kids in their development through educational content and activities. Stories provides a virtual library that can be read or listened to by children 6 to 8 years old. And Party provides interactive learning games for kids 6 to 8 years old.

iFood

iFood was founded in 2011. The company uses a website or mobile app along with location information to provide customers with access to menus, prices, payment options and delivery from restaurants located in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Mexico, where iFood operates through local companies.

Rapiddo

Rapiddo was founded in 2014 as an online delivery platform that connects Brazilian users and the closest available motorcycle couriers through a website or mobile app giving the user access to price, distance and time of journey.

MapLink is a logistic and routing company in Latin America. It shows live traffic, maps and addresses, monitors more than 500 thousand vehicles and covers 195 thousand kilometers of roads in Brazil.

Apontador

Apontador is the Brazilian leader in local search, showing more than 7.5 million places, services, discounts, reservations and online facilities. Over 100,000 customers pay for the service.

Sympla

Sympla is the leading self-service ticketing and event management platform in Brazil. It is a complete platform for sales, management and subscriptions of tickets to all kinds of events (congress, workshops, shows, sports, among others). Sympla was elected Startup of the Year at Spark Awards 2015, award developed by Microsoft and ABStartups. The company has grown over 175% per year and is, today, Brazil’s biggest “do it yourself” event platform. Overall, it has sold over 4 million tickets, in 2000 cities, in more than 50 thousand events, accomplished by 10 thousand producers.

Superplayer

Superplayer is Movile’s online radio with different options of playlists for several moments, without the need of downloading the songs. The app integrates with iTunes and allows users to download their favorite tracks to listen offline.

Offices

Investors

Naspers, the global media and e-commerce group, is Movile’s largest investor since 2008.

In 2014, Brazilian tech fund Innova Capital also started to invest in Movile.

References

  1. ↑ "Brasileira Movile chega ao Vale do Silício - TeleSíntese". telesintese.com.br (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2017-07-20.
  2. ↑ "Home". www.greatplacetowork.com.br. Retrieved 2017-07-20.
  3. ↑ Universia Article, 'Courage and hard work
  4. ↑ TeleSíntese Article, 'Compera announces merger with nTime'
  5. ↑ Abril Article, 'Compera acquires part of ComperaTime'
  6. ↑ Teletime Article, 'ComperaTime and Yavox merge' Archived April 7, 2014, at the Wayback Machine.
  7. ↑ Article, 'ComperaTimeYavox now renamed Movile'
  8. ↑ TI Inside Article, 'Movile acquires Cyclelogic to expand activities in Latin America'
  9. ↑ TeleSíntese Article, 'Brazilian company Movile present in Silicon Valley'
  10. ↑ Exame Report, 'They are now the invaders'
  11. ↑ Exame Report, 'Movile invests R$ 5.5 million in iFood'
  12. ↑ Kidscreen Article, 'Kill 'em with cuteness? PlayKids TV app takes on the big vid guys'
  13. ↑ iTunes Apple , 'PlayKids'
  14. ↑ Google Play , 'PlayKids'
  15. ↑ Great Place to Work, official page of Great Place to Work institute
  16. ↑ Computerworld magazine, official page of Computerworld magazine with ranking of best IT and Telecomm companies to work in. Archived August 9, 2013, at the Wayback Machine.
  17. ↑ TechCrunch Report, 'Hungry For New Deals, Latin American Wireless Co. Movile Doubles Down On Delivery'
  18. ↑ GigaOm , 'Movile brings its kids video service to two dozen more countries'
  19. ↑ TechCrunch , 'Hungry For New Deals, Latin America Wireless Co. Movile Doubles Down on Delivery'
  20. ↑ Estadão PME , 'Trio levanta R$1 milhão de investidores para impulsionar versão gaúcha do iTunes'
  21. ↑ TechCrunch , 'Brazil’s Movile Raises $55 Million To Bring Universal Delivery Services To Latin America'
  22. ↑ Shieber, Jonathan. "Movile's Latin American delivery business, Rappido, is now picking up in Mexico | TechCrunch". Retrieved 2017-07-21.
  23. ↑ "Cheftime | crunchbase". www.crunchbase.com. Retrieved 2017-07-21.
  24. ↑ "Apontador | crunchbase". www.crunchbase.com. Retrieved 2017-07-21.
  25. ↑ Editor (2016-06-28). "Movile Raises US$40m from Naspers and Innova Capital| Latin American Private Equity & Venture Capital Association". LAVCA | Latin American Private Equity & Venture Capital Association. Retrieved 2017-07-21.
  26. ↑ Ruvolo, Julie. "IFood Raises $50 Million From Movile And Just Eat For Food Delivery | TechCrunch". Retrieved 2017-07-21.
  27. ↑ Russell, Jon. "Kid Video And Entertainment Service Playkids Nabs $15M From Parent Firm Movile | TechCrunch". Retrieved 2017-07-21.
  28. ↑ "Startup roundup: Rapiddo-99Motos merger, Passeidireto.com funding - BNamericas". BNamericas. 2016-03-22. Retrieved 2017-07-21.
  29. ↑ "PlayKids brings Sesame Street content into the mix". Retrieved 2017-07-21.
  30. ↑ Dickey, Megan Rose. "SpoonRocket finds a home with Brazil-based iFood | TechCrunch". Retrieved 2017-07-21.
  31. ↑ "Movile investe R$ 13 milhões na startup de ingressos Sympla - Mercado". Canaltech (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2017-07-21.
  32. ↑ Editor (2016-06-28). "Movile Raises US$40m from Naspers and Innova Capital| Latin American Private Equity & Venture Capital Association". LAVCA | Latin American Private Equity & Venture Capital Association. Retrieved 2017-07-21.
  33. ↑ Shieber, Jonathan. "With $53 million in new funding, Movile looks to become the Tencent of Latin America | TechCrunch". Retrieved 2017-07-21.

www.movile.com

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