Following a strong period of growth and profitability, Skimlinks, the software business that helps publishing companies increase revenue through affiliate links in editorial content, has been acquired by Connexity Inc.
Specialist software investors, Frog Capital, backed Skimlinks in 2014, after recognising an important convergence of two key digital media trends: the boom in digital content, and the increase in publishers and brands needing to diversify away from Facebook and Google.
Skimlinks has successfully grown into a highly profitable leader in its market, having grown its footprint from the UK into mainland Europe, the US and Asia.
Frog focuses on European Software Scale-Ups, businesses with strong unit economics and proven product-market fit. With their unique Scale-Up Methodology and in-house operating partners Frog has played an active supporting role across the business.
CEO Sebastien Blanc commented, “At Skimlinks we have built the largest commerce content monetisation platform, trusted by enterprise leaders and SMEs across the world. Working closely with an exceptional board with operational expertise, we were able to deliver significant growth, signing world’s leading publishers as our customers. We’re excited about the complementary fit between Skimlinks and Connexity, and the opportunity this presents in the market.”
Frog Operating Partner Shirin Dehghan, previously a successful software founder herself, worked closely with Seb and his team across many core scale-up disciplines, including strategy, talent, customer acquisition and preparation for exit.
“Skimlinks is a great example of an innovative UK business that has developed world-leading technology. We backed the Founders and Management at a key point in its development to enable it to scale up and rollout its proven technology on a global basis. It has been an honour to serve on the board working closely with the CEO, Sebastien Blanc, to deliver this excellent outcome for all shareholders.”
Shirin played a key role in helping the Skimlinks’ Founders to select and successfully support a new scale-up CEO to succeed. Working closely with Seb and incoming Chairman, John Brimacombe, Skimlinks redefined its strategic goals that ultimately resulted in becoming highly profitable and attracting interest from several strategic acquirers.
This Skimlinks exit marks a strong 12 months for Frog following recent software exits from digital gaming company, Mediatonic, and retail analytics business, EDITED, and being named Unquote’s VC/Growth house of the year 2019.
