FluidSurveys.com

Founded in February 2008 by co-CEOs Eli Fathi and Aydin Mirzaee, FluidSurveys.com is an Ottawa, Canada-based software-as-a-service platform enabling organizations to create customized online surveys, collect respondent data, and analyze results in real time. Operating under its bootstrapped parent company Fluidware, the enterprise survey solution grew to generate over $10 million in annual recurring revenue while serving Fortune 500 corporations, academic institutions, non-profit organizations, and government agencies across more than 40 countries. This impressive global scale attracted SurveyMonkey, which acquired the platform and its 75 employees for a valuation of approximately $100 million. SurveyMonkey executed this transaction to expand its international market presence and enterprise capabilities, committing to maintain the Canadian office and local data storage. Within three months following the acquisition, FluidSurveys released a new version of its platform featuring over 30 new features.

FluidSurveys is not an independent company—it is a software product owned by SurveyMonkey following an acquisition in 2014.[1][2]

High-Level Overview

FluidSurveys is an online survey platform that enables individuals and organizations to create customized surveys, collect respondent data, and analyze results in real-time.[2] The product serves a global customer base spanning Fortune 500 companies, academic institutions, non-profits, government agencies, and startups across more than 40 countries.[2]

The platform addresses a fundamental business need: gathering structured feedback and insights at scale. By combining ease of use with analytical capabilities, FluidSurveys helps organizations make data-driven decisions across diverse use cases—from market research to customer satisfaction measurement.

Origin Story

FluidSurveys emerged from Fluidware, a Canadian software company founded in February 2008 by co-founders and co-CEOs Eli Fathi and Aydin Mirzaee in Ottawa.[1][2] The company was formerly known as Chide.it before pivoting to focus on survey and feedback tools.[4]

Mirzaee's entrepreneurial journey reveals the iterative nature of startup development. The founders initially conceived an "anti-social network" concept centered on crowdsourced feedback and criticism, but after four to six months of development work, they pivoted away from that vision.[6] This pivot led to the creation of FluidSurveys and FluidReview—products that crystallized their core insight: organizations need better tools to collect, manage, and act on feedback.

By the time of acquisition, Fluidware had established itself as an industry leader in Canada with a growing international presence.[1]

Acquisition and Current Status

SurveyMonkey acquired Fluidware in August 2014, marking SurveyMonkey's first acquisition in two years.[1][5] The deal was structured to preserve Fluidware's Canadian operations: the Ottawa office and infrastructure remained intact, and customer data continued to be stored in Canada under Canadian data protection standards.[1][2]

Following the acquisition, Aydin Mirzaee assumed responsibility for product development of FluidSurveys and FluidReview out of the Ottawa office while collaborating with SurveyMonkey's California team on broader platform development.[5] Eli Fathi transitioned to a consultant role during the integration period.[5]

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

The acquisition reflected SurveyMonkey's strategic expansion into international markets and its recognition that FluidSurveys and FluidReview offered complementary functionality to its core platform.[5] FluidReview, in particular, addressed a distinct market segment—organizations managing applications, grants, scholarships, and competitions—that extended SurveyMonkey's addressable market beyond traditional survey use cases.

The deal also underscored the value of Canadian software talent and the appeal of acquiring established products with proven customer bases rather than building from scratch. For SurveyMonkey, the acquisition provided immediate access to 40+ countries of customer relationships and product features that would have taken years to develop internally.

Quick Take & Future Outlook

FluidSurveys remains a functional product within SurveyMonkey's portfolio, serving customers who value its specialized survey capabilities and Canadian data residency. However, as a subsidiary product rather than an independent entity, its trajectory is now determined by SurveyMonkey's broader product strategy and investment priorities. The platform's long-term evolution will depend on how SurveyMonkey integrates its features into the larger ecosystem and whether it continues to invest in maintaining its distinct identity or consolidates functionality into the main SurveyMonkey platform.