Google acquires Zave Networks, will join internet giant’s Commerce team

Late Friday afternoon, Zave Networks, a company founded in 2006 and devoted to digitizing coupons and loyalty reward programs, announced on its homepage that it had been acquired by Google. “When we had the opportunity to join Google,” Team Zave Networks stated on zavenetworks.com, “we felt it was the perfect fit for our company and…

A photo of what appears to be the Zave Networks team posted at the bottom of Friday’s announcement of the Google acquisition. Photo from zavenetworks.com.

Update – See our post: “Google: For now, Zave Networks team will continue to work in KC

Late Friday afternoon, Zave Networks, a company founded in 2006 and devoted to digitizing coupons and loyalty reward programs, announced on its homepage that it had been acquired by Google.

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“When we had the opportunity to join Google,” Team Zave Networks stated on zavenetworks.com, “we felt it was the perfect fit for our company and the perfect opportunity to rapidly drive the deployment and use of our platform to the next level.”

First covered by TechCrunch, then VentureBeat, both outlets received confirmation from Google, quoting the same response from a Google spokesperson via email:

“We’re thrilled to welcome the Zave Networks team to Google. They have developed an impressive platform to connect consumers with coupons, special offers and reward programs for their favorite businesses, and we look forward to their joining our Commerce team.”

According to the Zave Networks website, the first implementation of its technology, Zavers, saw early success with its first users and throughout this year will be expanding into more than 1,500 stores across the country. And in January, Zave Networks partnered with IBM, the retail point of sale system market leader, to become an integrated part of IBM’s flagship SurePOS ACE application.

“We have built, deployed, and proven our system at scale,” Zave Networks states on its Company Overview page, “and now Zave Networks is the one platform poised to rapidly deliver a ubiquitous network for the exchange of non-cash value across all major retail verticals.”

It wasn’t more than two weeks ago that we reported on Zave Networks recent raise of $10.6 million and its aggressive growth strategy. Now as a part of Google, we’ll be following up to see where they’re headed and how their Kansas City headquarters plays into the picture. On that point, TechCrunch’s MG Siegler wrote: “We hear that Zave will continue to offer their services to consumers, retailers, and marketers for now. But the play for Google here appears to be to bulk up their Commerce and Wallet products.” Siegler also wrote that terms of the deal are not being disclosed.

At the time of this publishing (12:50 a.m.), we had reached out to both Zave Networks and Google but hadn’t received a response. Stay tuned for updates as more information is gathered.



Here’s the full announcement posted on Zave Network’s homepage, zavenetworks.com, on September 2:

We are delighted to share that Zave Networks has been acquired by Google!

Since 2006, our small but dedicated team has been passionate about creating a better platform for incentive programs — like coupons and loyalty rewards — by making them 100% digital, easier, more measurable, efficient and environmentally-friendly.

In this time, we’ve never lost our pioneering spirit or our focus on simultaneously addressing the needs of three distinct customer groups: consumers, retailers and marketers. Because of this, we have been able to efficiently build, deploy and grow our platform.

When we had the opportunity to join Google, we felt it was the perfect fit for our company and the perfect opportunity to rapidly drive the deployment and use of our platform to the next level.

We’re humbled by the unending support our investors, retailers, advertisers, and consumers have provided over the past 5 years, and would like to thank each and every one of them. Going forward, we are excited about being part of Google’s efforts in this space.

Please send all press inquiries to press@google.com

Thanks,

Team Zave Networks

This story is part of the AIM Archive

This story is part of the AIM Institute Archive on Silicon Prairie News. AIM gifted SPN to the Nebraska Journalism Trust in January 2023. Learn more about SPN’s origin »

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