Spiceworks

Spiceworks is a professional network for the information technology (IT) industry that is headquartered in Austin, Texas.[1][2][3] The company was founded in January 2006 by Scott Abel, Jay Hallberg, Greg Kattawar, and Francis Sullivan to build IT management software.[2][4]

Spiceworks
TypePrivate
IndustryComputer software
Founded2006
Headquarters
Austin, Texas
,
United States
ProductsSpiceworks IT Desktop
Websitewww.spiceworks.com

Spiceworks is an online community where users can collaborate and seek advice from one another, and also engage in a marketplace to purchase IT-related services and products.[5] The network is estimated to be used by more than six million IT professionals and 3,000 technology vendors.[6]

The company's free proprietary software is written in Ruby on Rails,[7] and runs exclusively on Microsoft Windows.[8] The software discovers IP-addressable devices and includes help desk functionality and an integrated knowledge base.[9]

History

Founding

The company was formed in January 2006 by Scott Abel, Jay Hallberg, Greg Kattawar and Francis Sullivan,[3] former executives at Motive.[4][10][11] The group had originally gathered in 2005, envisioning a social methodology in which to do IT.

Funding

The company received $5 million in series A funding from Austin Ventures in June 2006.[12] Spiceworks' series B funding round was completed in August 2007 and included $8 million from Shasta Ventures and Austin Ventures.[13] The company's $18 million series C funding round in January 2010 was headed by Institutional Venture Partners.[14] In April 2011, Spiceworks received $25 million in series D funding from Adams Street Partners and Tenaya Capital[15] and a 2014 series E financing round worth $57 million led by Goldman Sachs.[5]

Software

In July 2006, it released a public beta.[12] The 1.0 version of Spiceworks was released in November 2006.[16] It focussed on simplifying the process of taking inventory, monitoring networks, and generating reports for IT professionals at small and medium-sized businesses.[4][12] By the end of its first year, Spiceworks had 120,000 users.[17]

The company released the 2.0 version of its software in December 2007.[18] Subsequent versions followed, leading up to version 7.0 in 2013.[19] The company released a free network monitor product in December 2014.[20]

European expansion

In 2012, it opened its European headquarters in London, England.[21]

Tenth anniversary

The company celebrated its tenth anniversary in January 2016 and announced plans to add 100 additional employees during the year.[22] However, those plans were changed and in June 2016 the company announced that it was laying off approximately 12 percent of its workforce.[23] In addition to the layoffs, several employees in leadership positions at Spiceworks left the company to join former CEO Scott Abel in founding a new startup, Resly Labs.[24][25] Resly Labs later changed their name to Umuse.

Business model

Spiceworks offers its professional network and software free to users.[1][11][26] The company generates most of its revenue through the sale of ads displayed on its network.[1] A small percentage of its revenue is generated through purchases of IT products and services made through the Spiceworks platform.[5] The platform also includes premium features, which are available for purchase.[5]

Corporate identity

Mascot

The official mascot for Spicework is "SpiceRex."[27] SpiceRex is an orange Tyrannosaurus rex. The creation was a result of Spiceworks community member, IT pro, and blogger Andy "akp982" Phelps.[28]

Spiceworld

Austin

Spiceworks has hosted SpiceWorld, a conference for its users, every year since 2008.[11][29] The conference was originally held at the Alamo Drafthouse movie theater.[29] The conference later moved to the AT&T Executive Education & Conference Center at the University of Texas. Starting with SpiceWorld 2013 and on, the conferences have been held at the Austin Convention Center.[29][30]

London

With a growing international community, Spiceworks opened up a London office in 2012. The first SpiceWorld London took place in May 2012 in Vinopolis in London's Bankside.[31]

Awards and recognition
  • 2007 – PC Magazine's Editors' Choice award[32]
  • 2007 – IT Solution of the Year by InnoTech Conference[33]
  • 2009 – Spiceworks named InformationWeek Startup 50 Company.[34]
  • 2009 – Spiceworks named "Top 10 B-to-B Web Site" by BtoB Magazine[35]
  • 2010 – Spiceworks wins PCMag.com Best of 2010 Award[36]
  • 2010 – Spiceworks wins six Windows IT Pro Editors’ Best and Community Choice Awards[37]

See also

References
  1. Hawkins, Lori (4 February 2014). "Austin firm gets big boost: Tech firm gets new backers". Austin American-Statesman. Austin, TX.
  2. Pimentel, Ben (10 February 2014). "Introducing Spiceworks: A social network for techies, IT professionals". MarketWatch. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  3. McCullough, Amy (3 February 2014). "Spiceworks Pioneers the Social Way to Do IT and Gets $57 Million Funding". Silicon Hills. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  4. Dubie, Denise (21 July 2006). "Start-up offers free management tool – with a Google twist". Network World. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  5. Blattberg, Eric (3 February 2014). "Spiceworks scores $57M to reach the next 5 million IT pros". VentureBeat. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  6. Hess, Ken (September 29, 2014). "It's unanimous: The Spiceworks App Center is a hit". ZDNet. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
  7. James, Justin (4 December 2006). "Spiceworks: Rapid Ruby, Customer Focus, and Starting a Company". Tech Republic.
  8. "Welcome to the Spiceworks Community: Spiceworks Requirements". Spiceworks.
  9. "Welcome to the Spiceworks Community: Help and Documentation". Spiceworks.
  10. Finley, Klint (5 November 2012). "Spiceworks Woos IT Admins With Free Everything". Wired. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  11. Hamner, Susanna (5 March 2009). "Reaching Tech Folks on Their Turf". New York Times. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  12. Claburn, Thomas (25 July 2006). "Spiceworks Introduces Free, Ad-Supported IT Management Software". UBM Tech, InformationWeek. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  13. Gonzalez, Nick (27 August 2007). "SpiceWorks Raises $8 Million; Google Adsense Even Supports IT Software". Tech Crunch. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  14. Rao, Leena (11 January 2010). "Spiceworks Is Becoming The Facebook For IT Managers; Raises $16 Million Series C". Tech Crunch. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  15. Calnan, Christopher (28 April 2011). "Spiceworks snags $25M to expand network". Austin Business Journal. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  16. "Spiceworks Launches Version 1.0 of Free IT Management Software for Small and Medium Businesses". Business Wire. 6 November 2006.
  17. Ladendorf, Kirk (28 August 2007). "Austin firm Spiceworks raises $8 million in venture funds". Austin American-Statesman.
  18. "Spiceworks 2.0". Unofficial Spiceworks. December 2007. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  19. "Spiceworks 7.0 Release Notes". Spiceworks. 2014. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  20. Bridgwater, Adrian (December 17, 2014). "Spiceworks free Network Monitor system health check". Computer Weekly. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
  21. Rushton, Katherine (4 February 2014). "Facebook for IT staff' raises $57m ahead of possible IPO; Spiceworks to invest in increasing its audience from 5m users every month, before embarking on the likely flotation". Telegraph.
  22. lalorek. "Spiceworks Turns 10 and Plans to Add 100 Employees This Year". Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  23. lalorek. "Spiceworks Cuts 12 Percent of its Workforce". Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  24. Inc, Umuse. "Umuse: Making work simple again". Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  25. "Portfolio". Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  26. Vara, Vauhini (27 March 2007). "Companies Tolerate Ads to Get Free Software". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  27. McCullough, Amy (February 3, 2014). "Spiceworks Pioneers the Social Way to Do IT and Gets $57 Million Funding". Silicon Hills. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  28. Slaski, Jennifer (June 1, 2010). "Meet SpiceRex: Your New Best Friend (& IT Comrade)!". Spiceworks. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  29. Calnan, Christopher (30 October 2013). "Spiceworks' global influence on display at SpiceWorld in Austin". Austin Business Journal. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  30. Lahey, Susan (September 25, 2014). "SpiceWorld App Center Announced at Austin Conference". Silicon Hills. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
  31. Curtis, Sophie (1 December 2011). "Spiceworks to open European headquarters in London". Tech World. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  32. "Spiceworks 1.5". Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  33. Spiceworks named IT Solution of the Year – AllBusiness.com
  34. "Spiceworks Named InformationWeek Startup 50 Company - @CloudExpo". Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  35. Limited, Elemental Communications. "Press Releases - Spiceworks Named Top 10 B-to-B Web Site by BtoB Magazine". Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  36. "Spiceworks Wins PCMag.com Best of 2010 Award - Business Wire". Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  37. "Spiceworks Wins Six Windows IT Pro Editors' Best and Community Choice Awards". Retrieved 6 November 2016.
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