Berlin-based feedback management provider eKomi has acquired 100% assets of both Klantenvertellen.nl and Kiyoh from the online market platform, Youvia. The amount of the acquisition remains undisclosed. By acquiring the two brands from eKomi intends to become the largest provider of transaction-based reviews in Germany and the Netherlands.
Pride Capital Partners claim to have supported eKomi with every step of this acquisition process.
Speaking about the development, Michael Ambros, CEO and founder of eKomi, says, “I am very excited to work with Olaf and the experienced management of Klantenvertellen. The cultural fit with eKomi is great and our investment will help them to unleash additional growth potential and expand in the Benelux region. It also marks the next milestone in the buy-and-build strategy we launched together with Pride Capital last year.”
What does Klantenvertellen offer?
Founded in 2008, Klantenvertellen provides a system to utilise customers as ambassadors and use their word-to-mouth advertising online to improve the company and attract new potential customers.
According to the company, “Obtaining feedback is the first step. The second step is to publish the customers’ feedback on the website. This gives potential customers more confidence in the company’s ability to meet their needs and encourages them to turn into actual customers.”
The Dutch company currently claims to serve more than 9,000 customers with over 7 million reviews online and brings the group to a total of more than 30,000 customers. The management team of Klantenvertellen/Kiyoh is committed to accelerate growth in the Benelux region and is enthusiastic about the strategic value-add through the eKomi group.
eKomi’s vision with this acquisition
The Berlin-based company was founded in 2008 by Gunther Schmidt and Michael Ambros. eKomi is an independent provider of transaction-based reviews & ratings. Its technology enables online businesses to generate seller reviews, customer opinions, product ratings as well as social recommendations and general feedback.
The company’s vision, according to Ambros, is to create a hybrid strategy of organic growth and buy-and-build through acquisitions in its core European markets. To strengthen its market position, eKomi is planning to acquire similar targets in France, Spain, Netherlands and Italy in 2021.
Lars van’t Hoenderdaal, managing partner, Pride Capital Partners, commented, “The main goal of the buy-and-build strategy is further improving eKomi’s outstanding market position by expanding the geographic reach and improving the product offering to customers. With the acquisition of Klantenvertellen, eKomi becomes the market leader in the Netherlands and further strengthens its strong position in Europe.”
As a global Google partner eKomi has collected and published over 100 million reviews from customers. The company currently has 200 employees and this number will be further increased with the takeover of several dozen Dutch employees.
About Pride Capital Partners
A specialist private debt firm, Pride Capital Partners finances, profitable and growing companies in the software and ICT segment. Typical scenarios include growth, acquisition and buy-out transactions.
The firm is financed by its own shareholders, wealthy private individuals, family offices, (former) entrepreneurs and institutional investors. Its portfolio includes The Valley, Spotzer, Bright River, Bluefield, Arcus IT and the German companies KAIROS, Link11 and eKomi.
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