Flok (company)

flok (formerly Loyalblocks)[1] was an American tech startup based in New York City that provides marketing solutions such as chatbots/AI,[2] customer loyalty programs, mobile apps and CRM services to local businesses.[3][4][5][6]

flok
Subsidiary
IndustryMobile, Apps, Chatbots, Loyalty Programs
Founded2011 (2011)
DefunctMarch 1, 2020 (2020-03-01)
HeadquartersNew York City
ParentWix.com
Websiteflok.com

In January 2017, the company was acquired by Wix.com.[7][8]

Around March 2017, flok ceased communication.

On October 1, 2019, flok communicated via email stating that Flok is shutting down on March 1st, 2020.

On March 1, 2020, flok communicated via email stating that Flok has officially shut down[9].

Background

flok was founded in 2011 by Ido Gaver and Eran Kirshenboim and has offices in Tel Aviv, Israel.[10] In May 2013, flok secured a $9 million Series A Round from General Catalyst Partners with participation from Founder Collective and existing investor Gemini Israel Ventures.[11] In total, flok has raised over $18 million in venture capital in three rounds.[12][13][14]

In May 2014, flok announced a self-service loyalty platform for SMBs to build their own programs with beacon integration. At that time, approximately 40,000 businesses were using the service.[15] In 2016, flok released a turnkey chatbot service for local businesses,[16][17] and was featured in AdWeek for developing the first "weed bot" chatbot for a California cannabis business.[18]

Services

flok offers an eponymous customer-facing app[19] that consumers use to receive rewards and deals form partner businesses,[20] and a flok business app for merchants to manage the platform.[21] Both are available for iOS and Android operating systems. flok's main products center around customer loyalty and rewards. The platform offers a digital punch card, proximity marketing, push messaging and CRM services in addition to its chatbots and AI features.[22]

flok provides partner businesses with beacons that can locate customers and verify store visits.[23] As of July 2016, flok had a 4-star rating on Merchant Maverick review site.[24]

References
  1. "Your next loyalty 'punch card' will be driven by AI". VentureBeat. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  2. "Flok uses Bluetooth and chatbots to lure people inside thousands of small businesses". VentureBeat. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  3. Council, Forbes Communications. "How Conversational UX And The Internet Of Things Are Changing The Way We Communicate". Forbes. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  4. "Should Your Business Create an App?". American Express OPEN Forum. 25 March 2016. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  5. "Small Business Loyalty Programs : flok". Trend Hunter. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  6. "Loyalty Is Not Enough — It's All About Customer Relationship Management Now". Geomarketing. 7 June 2016. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  7. Lunden, Ingrid (19 January 2017). "Wix buys Flok to add loyalty and mobile CRM to its business tools". TechCrunch. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
  8. "Wix acquires Israeli CRM co flok - Globes". Globes (in Hebrew). Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  9. "Is Flok Closing Down or Being Discontinued?". Stamp Me loyalty Solutions.
  10. Zimmerman, Eilene. "LoyalBlocks Simplifies Mobile App Creation for Small Merchants". The New York Times. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  11. https://thenextweb.com/insider/2013/05/23/nyc-based-loyalblocks-raises-9m-for-its-automated-mobile-loyalty-program/#gref
  12. Taylor, Colleen. "LoyalBlocks Lands $9 Million Led By General Catalyst To Scale Out Its Mobile-Based Loyalty Program". TechCrunch. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  13. "Flok company profile on CrunchBase". CrunchBase. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  14. "Your next loyalty 'punch card' will be driven by AI". VentureBeat. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  15. http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/225373/loyalblocks-adds-beacon-to-self-serve-loyalty-plat.html
  16. https://venturebeat.com/2016/07/26/flok-uses-bluetooth-and-chatbots-to-lure-people-inside-thousands-of-small-businesses/
  17. http://marketingland.com/flok-wants-bring-chatbots-small-business-masses-186056
  18. "This California Marijuana Dispensary Is Using Bots to Understand Customers' Preferences". Adweek. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  19. "flok - get rewarded on the App Store". App Store (iOS). Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  20. http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/startup-loyalblocks-helps-small-businesses-zap-deals-rewards-customers-smartphones-article-1.1154135
  21. "flok business on the App Store". App Store (iOS). Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  22. http://streetfightmag.com/2016/07/26/flok-launches-chatbots-to-bolster-customer-engagement-for-local-businesses/
  23. "Beacons 101: What Smart Brick-and-Mortar Retailers Need to Know | Payment Week". Payment Week. 17 May 2016. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  24. "Flok Review - Merchant Maverick". Merchant Maverick. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
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