Skout
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| Private | |
| Industry | Software development |
| Founded | (2007) |
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| Headquarters | San Francisco, United States |
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| Website | skout |
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. SKOUT is available on both iOS and Android operating systems. Other SKOUT properties include Nixter, a nightlife app, and Fuse, an ephemeral group messaging app. SKOUT reported that over 500 million connections were made using its app in 2013.
SKOUT uses a cellphone's global positioning system to help users to find other users within a general radius of one another. SKOUT does not identify a user's precise location, and users can choose to opt out of the location-tracking features of the app. 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. The application also allows users to instant message or send virtual gifts to one another. The company segregates its adult and teen communities. SKOUT is available in 180 countries and 16 languages.
The service was founded as a mobile web social network in 2007 by Christian Wiklund and Niklas Lindstrom. 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. SKOUT launched its iOS application in February 2009 at the 2009 DEMO conference. At the time, SKOUT was available for users on non-iOS mobile internet devices through its website. Skout's Android app launched in August 2010.
SKOUT raised $22 million in venture capital from Andreessen Horowitz in April 2012. Prior to this investment, SKOUT had raised a collective $4.6 million in angel investment. In June 2012, SKOUT suspended its service for minors, after three separate incidents in which minors were allegedly raped by adults posing as teenagers. It later resumed its services for teenagers in July 2012 with after introducing additional safety measures.
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Wikipedia