Company:Socrata

From HandWiki
Socrata
TypePrivate
IndustryData as a Service
Founded2007
FounderKevin Merritt
HeadquartersSeattle, Washington, United States
Key people
Kevin Merritt, Safouen Rabah, Matt Miszewski
ProductsOpen data, government performance management, government financial insights, data-driven government
Websitewww.socrata.com

Socrata was a software company that was acquired by Tyler Technologies in 2018. It was a software system that provided data visualization tools to uncover business trends and predict statistical outcomes. Furthermore, Socrata had an open data server which was open source and accessible to all through GitHub.

History

Socrata was founded in 2007 in Seattle, Washington, USA and subsequently opened offices in Washington, D.C. and London, U.K.

Originally known as Blist, Socrata launched as "the world's easiest database" at the DEMO 2008 conference. Blist was an easy-to-use, web-based, online software as a service database provider.[1]

On June 2, 2009 the company changed its name from Blist to Socrata, along with its business decision to focus exclusively on meeting the needs of the public sector.[2]

In March, 2016 Socrata and Motorola Solutions formed a strategic partnership in which Socrata would develop and operate CrimeReports on behalf of Motorola Solutions, Inc., bringing a more modern, mobile-friendly crime mapping solution to more than 1,200 law enforcement agencies in the U.S.[3]

On April 18, 2018, the company announced that it has been acquired by Tyler Technologies.[4] A large majority of all the employees will join Tyler, and the Socrata offices in Seattle and Washington D.C. will remain open as well.[5]

Open Data Network

In July, 2014 Socrata introduced the Open Data Network, an initiative powered by machine learning designed to foster data-centered collaboration between governments and the private sector. Governments at each have access to the same kinds of data - crime data, transit data, 311 service incident data, expenditure data.[6] Subsequently, the open data network was strategically included in the administration of San Francisco.

FedRAMP

In June, 2017 Socrata was granted the authority to operate at FedRAMP at a Moderate status by the US Government's General Services Administration FedRAMP Program Management Office.[7]

Socrata received an initial series A round of venture capital funding of USD $6.5 million from Morgenthaler Ventures and Frazier Technology Ventures in January, 2008.[8] The company received an $18 million series B funding round from OpenView Venture Partners, Morgenthaler Ventures, Frazier Technology Partners, and In-Q-Tel in June, 2013. Socrata closed a $30M C round of funding in November, 2014, led by Sapphire Ventures with participation from Morgenthaler Ventures, Frazier Technology Ventures and OpenView Venture Partners.[9][10]

References

  1. "Blist Prepares Easy Web-based Database Application". TechCrunch. 2007-11-10. https://techcrunch.com/2007/11/10/blist-prepares-easy-web-based-database-application/. 
  2. "Start-Up Taps Obama E-Gov Energy". National Journal. 2009-06-02. Archived from the original on 2011-07-14. https://web.archive.org/web/20110714155454/http://techdailydose.nationaljournal.com/2009/06/startup-wants-slice-of-obama-e.php. 
  3. "Motorola and Socrata Partner to Improve Neighborhood Crime Maps for Citizens". Geekwire. 2016-03-15. http://www.geekwire.com/2016/motorola-and-socrata-partner-to-improve-neighborhood-crime-maps-for-citizens/. 
  4. "Seattle tech company Socrata bought by Tyler Technologies" (in en-US). The Seattle Times. 2018-04-18. https://www.seattletimes.com/business/technology/seattle-tech-company-socrata-bought-by-tyler-technologies/. 
  5. "Seattle open data startup to be acquired by Tyler Technologies". https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2018/04/18/socrata-acquired-by-tyler-technologies.html. 
  6. "Socrata's Open Data Network a Hub to Connect the Public and Private Sectors". Government Technology. 2014-07-25. http://www.govtech.com/data/Socratas-Open-Data-Network-A-Hub-to-Connect-the-Public-and-Private-Sectors.html. 
  7. "Socrata Clears FedRAMP, Embraces Non-Open Data". Government Technology. 2016-06-07. http://www.govtech.com/biz/Socrata-Clears-FedRAMP-Embraces-Non-Open-Data.html. 
  8. Cook, John (2008-02-20). "Database startup Blist scores $6.5 million stake". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. http://www.seattlepi.com/business/351915_blist20.html. 
  9. Cook, John (2013-06-26). "Socrata lands $18 million, continuing mission to unlock troves of government data". GeekWire. http://www.geekwire.com/2013/socrata-lands-18m-governments-open-troves-data/. 
  10. Peters, Katherine (2013-09-03). "In-Q-Tel Investment Signals Intel Community Focus on Data Sharing". NextGov. http://www.nextgov.com/defense/2013/09/-q-tel-investment-signals-intel-community-focus-data-sharing/69856/.