Whrrl

Whrrl
Type of site
 Social networking
Available in English
Owner Pelago, Inc.
Slogan(s) Are you in?
Website whrrl.com
Alexa rank 5,212,740 (April 2014)[1]
Launched October 2007
Current status Shutdown

Whrrl was a social location-based game developed by the Seattle-based company Pelago, Inc.[2]

Whrrl had a recommendation engine that uses algorithms and users' votes to surface relevant recommendations.

On June 30, 2010, Whrrl launched its Society Rewards Program, designed to close the gap between a brand’s online social media and real-world presence with its first partner, Murphy USA Oil.[3]

Groupon announced that it had purchased Whrrl on April 18, 2011.[4] As Whrrl dissipates, it is being speculated that Groupon will leverage location based social networking or "check-ins" on their popular group coupon site.

Site overview

The service was launched in October 2007 as a geosocial networking and discovery site that allows both web and mobile users to find, explore, share, meet up at, and rate points-of-interest in their cities. Online Recommendations.

Pelago’s first product, Whrrl, was launched on July 10, 2008. Whrrl v1.0 was a location-based social networking and discovery application for the iPhone, Blackberry and numerous other mobile phones.

Pelago launched Whrrl 2.0, an 'on-the-go' storytelling application for the iPhone and web on March 16 at South by Southwest.[5] Whrrl 3.0 was launched at SXSW on March 11, 2010 with a promise: "We'll save you from Farmville." Press release here .

Pelago, Inc.

The company was founded by Amazon.com veterans Jeff Holden and Darren Vengroff, the latter of which has since left the company.

In November 2006, Pelago, Inc completed Series A financing backed by Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield & Byers; Trilogy Equity Partners; and Bezos Expeditions.[6] It is also the first product to be financially backed by the iFund.

In May 2008, Pelago announced a second round of funding totaling US$15 million led by Deutsche Telekom, followed by India-based Reliance Technology Ventures and DAG Ventures.[7]

In April 2011, Pelago was acquired by Groupon and the Whrrl service discontinued.

References

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