Ask.com

Oakland, United States Founded: 1996 • Age: 30 yrs Acquired By IAC
A search engine and digital content platform is operated.
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About Ask.com

Ask.com is a company based in Oakland (United States) founded in 1996 was acquired by IAC in March 2005. It operates as a Advertising Model. Ask.com has raised $25 million across 2 funding rounds from investors including IAC, Highland Capital Partners and IVP. Ask.com has completed 6 acquisitions, including Bloglines, Direct Hit and Dotdash. Ask.com offers products and services including Ask.com Search Platform and Content Articles. Ask.com operates in a competitive market with competitors including Google, Yandex, Baidu, Yahoo and Naver, among others.

  • Headquarter Oakland, United States
  • Stage Public
  • Sectors
    Technology
  • Email
    ***********
  • Phone
    *********
  • Website
    *********
  • Social
    *********
  • Legal Name Ask Media Group, Llc
Operational Areas
Technology → Internet of Things (IoT) & Connectivity
Key Metrics
  • Annual Revenue
  • Net Profit
  • EBITDA
  • Total Equity Funding
    $25 M (USD)

    in 2 rounds

  • Latest Funding Round
    $25 M (USD), Series A

    Mar 22, 1999

  • Investors
    IAC

    & 3 more

  • Employee Count
    Employee Count
  • Investments & Acquisitions
    Bloglines

    & 5 more

  • Acquired by
    IAC

    (Mar 21, 2005)

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Products & Services of Ask.com

Ask.com offers a comprehensive portfolio of products and services, including Ask.com Search Platform and Content Articles. The company's diverse product and service offerings are designed to meet the evolving needs of its customers, address market demands, and provide comprehensive solutions that drive value creation and customer satisfaction across various segments and use cases.

Primary

A platform for answering user questions online daily.

Articles on lifestyle, culture, and entertainment are provided.

People of Ask.com
Headcount 50-200
Employee Profiles 46
Employee Profiles
People
Enrique Henestroza Anguiano
Senior Data Scientist
People
Tsedal Agidew
Team Lead - International SEM
People
Mark Stein
President
People
Tae Kim
Chief Marketing Officer

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Funding Insights of Ask.com

Ask.com has successfully raised a total of $25M across 2 strategic funding rounds. The most recent funding activity was a Series A round of $25 million completed in March 1999. This substantial capital infusion reflects strong investor confidence in the company's business model, growth potential, and market opportunities. The funding enables strategic expansion, product development, market penetration, and operational scaling to drive long-term value creation and competitive advantage.

  • Total Funding
  • Total Rounds 2
  • Last Round Series A — $25.0M
  • First Round
  • Investors Count 3
Date Amount Transaction Name Valuation Lead Investors Investors
Mar, 1999 Amount Series A - Ask.com Valuation

investors

Jun, 1997 Amount Unspecified - Ask.com Valuation

investors

Date Amount Transaction Name Valuation Lead Investors Investors
Jul, 2021 Amount Post-IPO - Grab Valuation

investors

Feb, 2021 Amount Post-IPO - Grab Valuation

investors

Jan, 2021 Amount Post-IPO - Grab Valuation

investors

Feb, 2021 Amount Post-IPO - Grab Valuation

investors

Investors in Ask.com

Ask.com has secured backing from 4 investors, including venture fund and institutional investors. Prominent investors backing the company include IAC, Highland Capital Partners and IVP. This diverse investor base provides strategic capital, industry expertise, and valuable network connections that support the company's growth initiatives, market expansion, and long-term value creation.

All
Venture Fund
Institutional
Investor Description Founded Year Domain Location
Venture capital investment and entrepreneur support services.
Founded Year Domain Location
Growth in technology companies is supported through venture capital.
Founded Year Domain Location
Seed and early-stage venture capital is provided in the US.
Founded Year Domain Location
Investor Description Founded Year Domain Location
Single family office of Amitabh Bachchan, founder of Amitabh Bachchan Corporation or AB CORP
Founded Year Domain Location
Startup ecosystems are ignited through strategic investments by Signite Partners.
Founded Year Domain Location
Venture capital is directed toward companies in multiple sectors.
Founded Year Domain Location
Venture capital is invested in cybersecurity, fintech, and AI startups.
Founded Year Domain Location

Investments & Acquisitions by Ask.com

Ask.com has strategically engaged in corporate development activities, having acquired 6 companies. Notable acquisitions include Bloglines, Direct Hit and Dotdash. These strategic investments and acquisitions demonstrate the company's commitment to growth through portfolio expansion, market consolidation, technology integration, and strategic partnerships that enhance competitive positioning and drive long-term value creation.

Investments
Company Name Description Domain Location Founded Year Amount
Bionic investment advisor platform
2016
Fine Asian gourmet food is offered by an internet-first restaurant.
2016
Physical e-commerce kiosks are deployed for rural purchases in Indonesia.
2014
Fine Asian gourmet food is offered by an internet-first restaurant.
2016
Acquisitions
Company Name Description Domain Location Founded Year Amount
Provider of content discovery platform
2009
Direct navigation traffic monetization platform
2006
Feed aggregator for blogs & RSS feeds
2003
Company Name Description Domain Location Founded Year Amount
OVO is recognized as a smart digital payment application.
2017
Bionic investment advisor platform
2016
Physical e-commerce kiosks are deployed for rural purchases in Indonesia.
2014
Physical e-commerce kiosks are deployed for rural purchases in Indonesia.
2014

Financial Statements - Ask.com

Tata Steel revenue growth over time
Tata Steel profit and loss trends over time
Date Amount Transaction Name Valuation Lead Investors Investors
Jul, 2021 Amount Post-IPO - Grab Valuation

investors

Feb, 2021 Amount Post-IPO - Grab Valuation

investors

Jan, 2021 Amount Post-IPO - Grab Valuation

investors

Feb, 2021 Amount Post-IPO - Grab Valuation

investors

Ask.Com Comparisons

Employees
+
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Competitors of Ask.com

Ask.com operates in a dynamic and competitive business environment, facing competition from various established players and emerging companies in the market. The competitive landscape includes prominent companies such as Google, Yandex, Baidu, Yahoo and Naver, among others. This competitive environment drives innovation, market differentiation, and strategic positioning as companies strive to capture market share and deliver value to their customers. Understanding the competitive dynamics is crucial for assessing market positioning, identifying growth opportunities, and navigating the challenges inherent in a competitive marketplace.

Company Name Domain Founded year HQ Location Description
domain founded_year HQ Location
A technology company offering products and services, including search engine, cloud computing, advertising, email, productivity software, and more
domain founded_year HQ Location
An AI-enabled search engine and related digital services are provided.
domain founded_year HQ Location
AI-enabled keyword-based search engine is operated for information retrieval.
domain founded_year HQ Location
News, insights, and services are delivered via an online platform.
domain founded_year HQ Location
Keyword-based searches are enabled for information, news, and services.
domain founded_year HQ Location
Online media, search, and gaming services are offered by Sohu.com.
Company Name Domain Founded year HQ Location Description
domain founded_year HQ Location
Multiple services are booked via an app-based platform.
domain founded_year HQ Location
On-demand services are booked through an app-based platform.
domain founded_year HQ Location
App based platform offering on demand delivery and ride-hailing services
domain founded_year HQ Location
Operates an on-demand hyperlocal delivery app for food and groceries.

Latest news on Ask.Com

Frequently Asked Questions about Ask.com

When was Ask.com founded?

Ask.com was founded in 1996 and raised its 1st funding round 1 year after it was founded.

Where is Ask.com located?

Ask.com is headquartered in Oakland, United States. It is registered at Oakland, California, United States.

Is Ask.com a funded company?

Ask.com is a funded company, having raised a total of $25M across 2 funding rounds to date.

What does Ask.com do?

A search engine platform is provided by Ask.com, enabling users to find answers to various questions. Additionally, digital content across sectors like lifestyle, culture, technology, and entertainment is curated and published. Solutions include articles, reviews, and trending news to engage a broad online audience.

Who are the top competitors of Ask.com?

Ask.com's top competitors include Google, Baidu and Sohu.com.

What products or services does Ask.com offer?

Ask.com offers Ask.com Search Platform and Content Articles.

How many acquisitions has Ask.com made?

Ask.com has made 6 acquisitions, including Bloglines, Direct Hit, and Dotdash.

Who are Ask.com's investors?

Ask.com has 4 investors. Key investors include IAC, Highland Capital Partners, IVP, and The Roda Group.

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