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MessageMe

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uuid000br8w

Namestring
MessageMe
Websiteurl
messageme.com
Company typeenum
Private
Founded yearint
2012
Short descriptiontext

MessageMe was a San Francisco-based consumer mobile messaging app founded in 2012 that let users send expressive, fun messages. It raised about $11.9 million from top-tier VCs, was acquired by Yahoo in October 2014, and shut down its app in November 2014.

Operating statusenum
Acquired
Ownership categoryenum
Headcount rangeband
11–50
akta.pro rankint
HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
HQ citystring
San Francisco
HQ countrystring
United States
HQ regionstring
North America
Markets served

Serves global market

Keyword5 values
mobile messaging app, instant messaging, social messaging, consumer messaging, mobile communication
Industry1 code
1Consumer Messaging Apps
CodeBPAMACAAPrimaryYes
NAICS code2 codes
  • Telecommunications517
  • All Other Telecommunications517810
SIC code2 codes
  • Telegraph & Other Message Communications4822
  • Services-Prepackaged Software7372
Product category
Consumer Mobile Messaging
Social media profiles3 records
Distribution channels1 record

Each record includes

Title, Type, Scope, Target buyer, Description, Source

Cost components4 values
Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales
GTM typeB2C
B2C
Offering typeSoftware
Software
Core offering1 text field

MessageMe was a free mobile messaging application that enabled users to send personalized, expressive messages and connect with others on their mobile devices. The app focused on visual and creative communication features that went beyond plain text messaging, allowing users to share richer, more fun messaging experiences before the application was shut down following Yahoo's acquisition of the team in October 2014.

Differentiator
Functional benefit
Problem solved
Product and service1 record
1MessageMe
CategoryConsumer Mobile Messaging
Description

A free mobile messaging application focused on expressive and fun online communication, enabling users to send personalized messages and connect with others on their mobile devices. Targeted at individual consumers seeking richer messaging experiences than plain text; operated as a standalone app until shutdown in November 2014.

Partnership1 partner
1Yahoo
Strategic tierMajorTypeStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnounced on2014-10-03
Description

MessageMe announced that its team would be joining Yahoo. The partnership was described as a strategic acquisition where the MessageMe team would focus on helping build the best mobile communications products for Yahoo users. Yahoo shared MessageMe's passion for connecting people in inspiring ways.

Peers10 records
1Snapchat
TypeDirect peer
Description

Consumer mobile messaging app launched around the same era (2011) with an explicit focus on expressive, visual, ephemeral communication — the closest philosophical and product analogue to MessageMe's expressive-messaging positioning.

2WhatsApp
TypeDirect peer
Description

Dominant cross-platform consumer messaging app during MessageMe's operating period. Directly competed for the same consumer messaging use case and acquired by Facebook in 2014 for $19B, dwarfing MessageMe's outcome.

3Kik
TypeDirect peer
Description

Consumer mobile messaging app founded in 2009 targeting younger users with rich-media and expressive features — a closely comparable peer in stage, target user, and product philosophy.

4GroupMe
TypeDirect peer
Description

Group-focused mobile messaging app founded in 2010 that was acquired by Skype (later Microsoft) in 2011 for ~$80M. Closely comparable consumer mobile messaging peer with a similar acqui-hire-style exit trajectory.

5Facebook Messenger
TypeDirect peer
Description

Mass-market consumer messaging product from Facebook. Competed head-on with MessageMe for consumer messaging share and benefited from Facebook's social graph — a primary competitive headwind for MessageMe.

6Telegram
TypeDirect peer
Description

Cross-platform consumer messaging app launched in 2013 with a focus on speed and expressive features (stickers, media). Directly comparable in product category and target use case during MessageMe's operating window.

7WeChat
TypeBroad incumbent
Description

Super-app consumer messaging platform from Tencent. Operates in the same consumer mobile messaging category as MessageMe and represented a major global benchmark for expressive messaging features during the same period.

8Viber
TypeDirect peer
Description

Cross-platform consumer messaging and VoIP app that was acquired by Rakuten in 2014. Direct peer in product category, with a similar acqui-hire/timing profile to MessageMe's Yahoo deal.

9Line
TypeRegional player
Description

Consumer messaging app dominant in Japan and parts of Southeast Asia, with a heavy emphasis on stickers and expressive communication — comparable product philosophy to MessageMe, though focused on Asian markets.

10Yahoo Messenger
TypeBroad incumbent
Description

Legacy consumer messaging product from Yahoo — the very platform that acquired MessageMe in 2014. Represents the broad-incumbent home MessageMe's team integrated into post-acquisition.

Market position
Customer concentration

Classification, Details

Segment1 record

Each record includes

Title, Type, Primary, Description, Pain point addressed, Use case, Source

Ideal customer profile1 record

Each record includes

Profile, Firmographic size, Sales motion, Sales cycle length, Buying structure, Purchase trigger, Buyer persona, Geography, Industry vertical, Primary use case, Description, Pain points, Evidence proof points, Target buyer

Technology focused
Yes
API detail
Has APIbool
No

Docs URL, Description

AI maturity
App detail

Has app

Core technology
Revenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Number of profiles
No data
No data
Funding overview

Funding stage, Last funding date, Total funding USD

Funding rounds3 records

Each record includes

Round, Amount USD, Date, Pre money valuation, Total investors, Investors, News

Investors8 records

Each record includes

Name, Type, Date of entry, Rounds participated, Website

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Each record includes

Name, Acquisition type, Announced date, Completed date, Status, Website, News

Investment

Each record includes

Name, Round, Announced date, Lead investor, Website, News

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

MessageMe

Consumer Mobile Messagingmessageme.com

MessageMe was a San Francisco-based consumer mobile messaging app founded in 2012 that let users send expressive, fun messages. It raised about $11.9 million from top-tier VCs, was acquired by Yahoo in October 2014, and shut down its app in November 2014.

MessageMe firmographics

Firmographics
Name
MessageMe
Website
https://messageme.com
Company type
Private
Founded year
2012
Operating status
Acquired
Headcount range
11–50 employees
Short description
MessageMe was a San Francisco-based consumer mobile messaging app founded in 2012 that let users send expressive, fun messages. It raised about $11.9 million from top-tier VCs, was acquired by Yahoo in October 2014, and shut down its app in November 2014.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

MessageMe industry classification

Industry
Product category
Consumer Mobile Messaging
NAICS
Telecommunications (517), All Other Telecommunications (517810)
SIC
Telegraph & Other Message Communications (4822), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
akta.pro primary industry
Consumer Messaging Apps (BPAMACAA)

Keywords

  • Mobile messaging app
  • Instant messaging
  • Social messaging
  • Consumer messaging
  • Mobile communication

Where MessageMe is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city
San Francisco
HQ country
United States
HQ region
North America

Markets served

MessageMe business model

Business model
GTM type
B2C
Offering type
Software
Cost components
Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Distribution channels1 record

MessageMe product offering

Product offering

Core offering

MessageMe was a free mobile messaging application that enabled users to send personalized, expressive messages and connect with others on their mobile devices. The app focused on visual and creative communication features that went beyond plain text messaging, allowing users to share richer, more fun messaging experiences before the application was shut down following Yahoo's acquisition of the team in October 2014.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

  • MessageMe A free mobile messaging application focused on expressive and fun online communication, enabling users to send personalized messages and connect with others on their mobile devices. Targeted at individual consumers seeking richer messaging experiences than plain text; operated as a standalone app until shutdown in November 2014.

Companies that use MessageMe

Customer profile

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

MessageMe technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API
No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

MessageMe partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

  • YahoomajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 October 2014MessageMe announced that its team would be joining Yahoo. The partnership was described as a strategic acquisition where the MessageMe team would focus on helping build the best mobile communications products for Yahoo users. Yahoo shared MessageMe's passion for connecting people in inspiring ways.

MessageMe competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Direct peers

  • Snapchat: Consumer mobile messaging app launched around the same era (2011) with an explicit focus on expressive, visual, ephemeral communication — the closest philosophical and product analogue to MessageMe's expressive-messaging positioning.
  • WhatsApp: Dominant cross-platform consumer messaging app during MessageMe's operating period. Directly competed for the same consumer messaging use case and acquired by Facebook in 2014 for $19B, dwarfing MessageMe's outcome.
  • Kik: Consumer mobile messaging app founded in 2009 targeting younger users with rich-media and expressive features — a closely comparable peer in stage, target user, and product philosophy.
  • GroupMe: Group-focused mobile messaging app founded in 2010 that was acquired by Skype (later Microsoft) in 2011 for ~$80M. Closely comparable consumer mobile messaging peer with a similar acqui-hire-style exit trajectory.
  • Facebook Messenger: Mass-market consumer messaging product from Facebook. Competed head-on with MessageMe for consumer messaging share and benefited from Facebook's social graph — a primary competitive headwind for MessageMe.
  • Telegram: Cross-platform consumer messaging app launched in 2013 with a focus on speed and expressive features (stickers, media). Directly comparable in product category and target use case during MessageMe's operating window.
  • Viber: Cross-platform consumer messaging and VoIP app that was acquired by Rakuten in 2014. Direct peer in product category, with a similar acqui-hire/timing profile to MessageMe's Yahoo deal.

Broad incumbents

  • WeChat: Super-app consumer messaging platform from Tencent. Operates in the same consumer mobile messaging category as MessageMe and represented a major global benchmark for expressive messaging features during the same period.
  • Yahoo Messenger: Legacy consumer messaging product from Yahoo — the very platform that acquired MessageMe in 2014. Represents the broad-incumbent home MessageMe's team integrated into post-acquisition.

Regional players

  • Line: Consumer messaging app dominant in Japan and parts of Southeast Asia, with a heavy emphasis on stickers and expressive communication — comparable product philosophy to MessageMe, though focused on Asian markets.

Market position

Customer concentration

MessageMe social profiles

Digital presence

MessageMe financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

MessageMe leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

MessageMe funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors8 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

MessageMe M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about MessageMe

What does MessageMe do?

MessageMe was a free mobile messaging application that enabled users to send personalized, expressive messages and connect with others on their mobile devices. The app focused on visual and creative communication features that went beyond plain text messaging, allowing users to share richer, more fun messaging experiences before the application was shut down following Yahoo's acquisition of the team in October 2014.

Is MessageMe a public or private company?

MessageMe is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.

When was MessageMe founded?

MessageMe was founded in 2012. It employs 11 to 50 people.

Where is MessageMe based?

MessageMe is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.

Who are MessageMe's main competitors?

Direct peers on record are Snapchat, WhatsApp, Kik, GroupMe, Facebook Messenger, Telegram and Viber. Broad incumbents are WeChat and Yahoo Messenger. Line is listed as a regional player.

Does MessageMe have an API?

No public API is recorded for MessageMe.

What industry is MessageMe in?

MessageMe's product category is Consumer Mobile Messaging. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAMACAA, Consumer Messaging Apps. Its NAICS code is 517 and its SIC code is 4822.

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Live signals
TechCrunchYahoo Acquires Mobile Messaging App MessageMeYahoo acquired mobile messaging app MessageMe, a WhatsApp-like service, in a deal valued in the single-digit millions, later reported as double-digit. The team of 8 will join Yahoo, possibly to work on its internal messaging app, Yahoo Instant.TechCrunchSnapchat Wanted MessageMe Before Yahoo Bought It For Up To $30-$40MYahoo has confirmed the acquisition of messaging app MessageMe for between $30 million and $40 million, with the original app shutting down on November 7. The decision was driven by Yahoo's plan to acqui-hire eight team members to develop a new messaging product, outbidding competitors Snapchat and Truecaller. This move places the startup's talent into a competitive landscape dominated by incumbents like WhatsApp and potential entrants such as Google.TechCrunchMessageMe Adds A Web Client, Streamlines Its ID SystemMessageMe, a messaging app backed by Greylock Partners, is launching a web client and overhauling its username system to improve user engagement in a crowded market. The company, with 8 million registered users and strongest presence in Russia, the U.S., and the Middle East, aims to compete more effectively with rivals including Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Line, and Tencent's WeChat. COO Ali Rosenthal acknowledged the market is highly competitive, noting consumers readily switch between messaging platforms when experiences lack sufficient engagement.TechCrunchKeen On… Why MessageMe Might Be The Future Of Real-Time CommunicationsAli Rosenthal has joined MessageMe as COO after her tenure at Facebook, where she played a key role in its mobile business development. MessageMe, a small startup focusing on real-time mobile communications, raised $10 million in a Series A funding round in May. Rosenthal believes in the potential of MessageMe's product to revolutionize rich communications on smartphones.TechCrunchMessageMe Introduces Stickers To Keep Pace With CompetitionMessaging app startup MessageMe launched a sticker feature in the iOS App Store, becoming the latest app to add this functionality as a competitive response in the crowded messaging market. The company, which raised $11.9 million in funding within months of its March founding, faces stiff competition from established players including Facebook, which previously blocked MessageMe days after its initial launch for too closely resembling Facebook Messenger. Industry data underscores the financial opportunity: Japan's Line reported $27.4 million in sticker sales for Q2 (nearly double the prior quarter), and Path reportedly earned more in its first 24 hours after launching stickers than in its entire company history.VC News DailyMessageMe Grabs $10MCustom messaging application MessageMe has raised $10 million in funding led by Greylock Partners. The investment round included participation from existing investors such as True Ventures, First Round Capital, Google Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz, and The Social+Capital Partnership.TechCrunchWith A Media-Rich Platform To Stand Out From The Messaging Pack, MessageMe Hits 5M Users In 2.5 Months [Interview]MessageMe, a media-rich messaging app, has reached 5 million users in 2.5 months and confirmed a $10 million Series A funding round led by former Mozilla CEO John Lilly through Greylock. The app differentiates itself from competitors like WhatsApp and Line by offering diverse communication features including pictures, video, voice, location, and music sharing, with usage tripling to 1,500 messages per second. The company plans to monetize through premium features like stickers and money transfers rather than advertising, with new features rolling out in approximately one month starting on Android.Business Insider4 Of The Most Inspiring New Startup Founders, According to Silicon Valley InvestorsSV Angels investors Ron Conway, Brian Pokorny, and David Lee named George Petschnigg of FiftyThree, Arjun Sethi of MessageMe, and Dan Knox of Science Exchange as inspiring founders. Conway praised Petschnigg's passion and customer knowledge, Pokorny called Sethi smart and innovative, and Lee highlighted Knox's research outsourcing platform.FinSMEsMessageMe Raises $1.9M FundingMessageMe, a mobile multimedia messenger, raised $1.9M in seed funding. Backers include True Ventures, First Round Capital, Google Ventures, and others. The app supports group chat, music, video, and doodles, and is available for Android and iOS.GlobeNewswireIntroducing MessageMe: The Future of Messaging and Media Sharing -- and It Won't Drain Your BatteryMessageMe, a messaging app for iOS and Android, was introduced with features for sharing photos, videos, music, and doodles. The app delivers large files instantly without extra data costs and is designed to conserve battery life. It aims to improve communication across different media channels.