What3words

London, United Kingdom Founded: 2013 • Age: 13 yrs
Locations are identified and shared via unique three-word addresses.
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About What3words

What3words is a company based in London (United Kingdom) founded in 2013 by John Wilfred Lazar and Abdul Guefor.. What3words has raised $231.46 million across 16 funding rounds from investors including ITVX, Aramex and Mercedes-Benz. What3words has completed 1 acquisition, including Swiftcomplete. What3words offers products and services including what3words App and Developer API.

  • Headquarter London, United Kingdom
  • Founders John Wilfred Lazar, Abdul Guefor
  • Stage Minicorn
  • Sectors
    Industrial Goods & Manufacturing
    Technology
  • Email
    ***********
  • Phone
    *********
  • Website
    *********
  • Social
    *********
  • Legal Name What3words Limited
  • Date of Incorporation 05 Mar, 2013
  • Jurisdiction LONDON, ENGLAND
Operational Areas
Industrial Goods & Manufacturing → Security, Surveillance & Safety Systems
Technology → Geospatial, Imaging & Sensing Technology
Key Metrics
  • Annual Revenue
  • Net Profit
  • EBITDA
  • Total Equity Funding
    $231.46 M (USD)

    in 16 rounds

  • Latest Funding Round
    $8.95 M (USD), Series C

    Jul 10, 2023

  • Investors
    ITVX

    & 15 more

  • Employee Count
    Employee Count
  • Investments & Acquisitions
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Products & Services of What3words

What3words offers a comprehensive portfolio of products and services, including what3words App and Developer API. 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

App for precise location identification using three-word codes

Tools for integrating location services into applications

People of What3words
Headcount 200-500
Employee Profiles 53
Employee Profiles
People
Chris Sheldrick
Co-Founder & CEO
People
Jack Waley-Cohen
Co-Founder & Chief Corporate Development Officer
People
Josh Wigmore
CPO
People
Wil Poole
Head of Data & Analytics

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Funding Insights of What3words

What3words has successfully raised a total of $231.46M across 16 strategic funding rounds. The most recent funding activity was a Series C round of $8.95 million completed in July 2023. 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 16
  • Last Round Series C — $8.9M
  • First Round

    (14 Mar 2013)

  • Investors Count 16
Date Amount Transaction Name Valuation Lead Investors Investors
Jul, 2023 Amount Series C - What3words Valuation

investors

Oct, 2022 Amount Series C - What3words Valuation

investors

Jul, 2022 Amount Series C - What3words 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 What3words

What3words has secured backing from 16 investors, including institutional, venture fund, and angel investors. Prominent investors backing the company include ITVX, Aramex and Mercedes-Benz. 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
Angel
Investor Description Founded Year Domain Location
Venture capital firm focused on series A and late-stage companies
Founded Year Domain Location
Private equity investments are directed across multiple sectors.
Founded Year Domain Location
Venture capital firm focused on big data, IoT, and human machine
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 What3words

What3words has strategically engaged in corporate development activities, having acquired 1 company. Notable acquisitions include Swiftcomplete. 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
Provides real-time address validation tools for efficient business data management.
2014
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 - What3words

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

What3words Comparisons

Employees
+
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Competitors of What3words

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 What3words

Frequently Asked Questions about What3words

When was What3words founded?

What3words was founded in 2013.

Where is What3words located?

What3words is headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is registered at London, England, United Kingdom.

Is What3words a funded company?

What3words is a funded company, having raised a total of $231.46M across 16 funding rounds to date. The company's 1st funding round was a Series C of $7.73M, raised on Mar 14, 2013.

What does What3words do?

What3words was founded in 2013 in London, United Kingdom, as a geolocation technology provider. A proprietary system is utilized to assign unique three-word addresses to every three-by-three-meter square on Earth, enabling precise location sharing. Services include APIs, SDKs, and mobile applications for iOS and Android, with compatibility extended to drones, voice assistants, and autonomous vehicles. Operations focus on global accessibility for navigation and logistics applications.

What products or services does What3words offer?

What3words offers what3words App and Developer API.

How many acquisitions has What3words made?

What3words has made 1 acquisition, including Swiftcomplete.

Who are What3words's investors?

What3words has 16 investors. Key investors include ITVX, Aramex, Mercedes-Benz, Alpine, and Brand Capital International.

What is What3words's valuation?

The valuation of What3words is $261.71M as of Oct 2022.

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