social networks
A social network is a social structure consisting of a set of social actors (such as individuals or organizations), networks of dyadic ties, and other social interactions between actors. The social network perspective provides a set of meth ...
and adding
social software
Social software, also known as social apps or social platform includes communications and interactive tools that are often based on the Internet. Communication tools typically handle capturing, storing and presenting communication, usually writt ...
features, video playersCMS Wire – KickApps: Kicking off Video Deal with Akamai – August 19, 2008 /ref> and widgets to websites. More than 100,000 sites use KickApps, including major media companies (e.g.
NBC Universal
NBCUniversal Media, LLC (abbreviated as NBCU and doing business as NBCUniversal or Comcast NBCUniversal since 2013) is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate that is a subsidiary of Comcast and headquartered at 30 ...
, the
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...
,
H&R Block
H&R Block, Inc., or H&R Block, is an American tax preparation company operating in Canada, the United States, and Australia. The company was founded in 1955 in Kansas City, Missouri, by brothers Henry W. Bloch and Richard Bloch.
As of 2018, H&R ...
, and
Scripps Networks
Scripps Networks, LLC, formerly known as Katz Broadcasting, is an American specialized digital multicasting network media company and a division of the E. W. Scripps Company. The company owns (as of 2024) eight broadcast television networks ...
) and a wide variety of niche websites.TechCrunch: KickApps Actually Raises $14 Million In Series C Round – November 25, 2008 /ref>
The KickApps company was acquired in January 2011 by KIT digital.
Then, in December 2012, the company was acquired again by Perfect Sense Digital.
Features
KickApps is a hosted platform (
SaaS
Software as a service (SaaS ) is a cloud computing service model where the provider offers use of application software to a client and manages all needed physical and software resources. SaaS is usually accessed via a web application. Unlike oth ...
) that provides a range of social media applications to website developers and publishers.
A SaaS platform allows websites to deploy a wide range of user experiences in a variety of ways: REST and SOAP APIs, feeds, programmable widgets and video players, customizable templates and single-sign services.
* Members select a username and password (or use their existing site ID) to join your social network
* Members can upload videos, photos, and audio
* Member profiles contain standard social networking features, including: blogs (video, audio, and plain text), RSS feeds, guest books, friends, multi-media message boards, widgets and groups
* Includes online media management, member management, reporting and advertising administration
KickApps is often compared with
Brightcove
Brightcove, Inc. is an American software company based in Boston, Massachusetts, that produces an online video platform. Founded in 2004 by Jeremy Allaire and Bob Mason, the company went public in 2012, and in 2025 was acquired by Bending Spoons. ...
, Flux and Ning.
Founder and chairman, Eric Alterman, was also founder of MeshNetworks (acquired by Motorola), Military Commercial Technologies, TeraNex, SkyCross, Jed Broadcasting, Quadfore, Centerpoint and Triton Network Systems
In January 2011, KickApps was acquired by KIT digital.
Venture Funding
* $7 million Series A round from
Spark Capital
Spark Capital Partners, LLC is a multi-stage venture capital firm based in the U.S. with operations in San Francisco, New York, and Boston. Spark is a generalist VC firm with a portfolio that spans verticals such as consumer internet, enterpris ...
and also included Prism VentureWorks and
Jarl Mohn
Jarl Mohn is an American venture capital investor, art collector, and philanthropist, who focuses primarily on startups in the Los Angeles area. He served as the president and CEO of NPR from 2014 to 2019 and now serves as its president emeritu ...
* $11 million Series B round from SoftBank Capital and a group of previous investors
* $14 million Series C round from North Atlantic Capital and all previous investors.