| Skout | |
| Type: | Private |
| Industry: | Software development |
| Foundation: | |
| Location City: | San Francisco |
| Location Country: | United States |
SKOUT is the developer of a location-based social networking and dating application and website. SKOUT was one of the first dating and mobile people discovery applications to emphasize generalized user location.[1] SKOUT is available on both iOS and Android operating systems. Other SKOUT properties include Nixter, a nightlife app,[2] and Fuse, an ephemeral group messaging app.[3] SKOUT reported that over 500 million connections were made using its app in 2013.[4]
SKOUT uses a cellphone's global positioning system to help users to find other users within a general radius of one another.[5] SKOUT does not identify a user's precise location, and users can choose to opt out of the location-tracking features of the app.[6] GPS location is only enabled in the adult community. While searching for people, users can view the profile and recent activities of others that they find interesting.[1] The application also allows users to instant message or send virtual gifts to one another.[7] The company segregates its adult and teen communities.[8] SKOUT is available in 189 countries and 16 languages.[4]
The service was founded as a mobile web social network in 2007 by Christian Wiklund and Niklas Lindstrom.[9] The two, Skout's chief executive officer and chief technology officer respectively, relaunched the network in 2009 as a dating and people discovery application and website after recognizing over 80% of the site's users were using it as a dating platform.[7] SKOUT launched its iOS application in February 2009 at the 2009 DEMO conference.[10] At the time, SKOUT was available for users on non-iOS mobile internet devices through its website.[7] Skout's Android app launched in August 2010.[11]
SKOUT raised $22 million in venture capital from Andreessen Horowitz in April 2012.[9] Prior to this investment, SKOUT had raised a collective $4.6 million in angel investment.[9] In June 2012, SKOUT suspended its service for minors, after three separate incidents in which minors were allegedly raped by adults posing as teenagers.[12] [13] It later resumed its services for teenagers in July 2012 with after introducing additional safety measures.[14]
SKOUT announced a travel feature that allows users to meet people in another city while traveling in 2013.[15] SKOUT Travel is a premium paid feature.[15] Another feature available on SKOUT is "Shake to Chat."[16] Shake to Chat connects users to others who are shaking their phones at the same time.[16] User profiles are anonymous for 40 seconds after the Shake to Chat conversation begins.[17] In 2015, SKOUT launched Interested? - it uses the ‘Meet People’ search settings and instantly matches Skouters who share similar interests. SKOUT extended its services from 14 languages to 16 languages including Malay and Vietnamese in 2016.[18] [19]
In May 2014, the company acquired Nixter, a nightlife app which allows users to find nightlife events, buy tickets, and see guest lists for events in New York City, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.[2] SKOUT launched Fuse, an app that gives users tools to construct their own social network that functions off the address book on their smartphone or tablet, in June 2014.[20] In 2015, SKOUT announced that it had reached more than 10 million members.[21]
SKOUT has received $22 million in investment from Andreessen Horowitz and has been funded by early-stage investors including Jan Brandt, former vice chair of AOL; Jarl Mohn, founding president and CEO of Liberty Digital; and Hans Akerblom, founder and chair of Scandinavian Leadership AB.[9] The board of directors includes, in addition to the founders, Stan Chudvosky, Scott Weiss, Herbert Madan and Board Observer Marc Andresseen. SKOUT reported that it became profitable in December 2013.[4] [22]