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klout has raised $71.0M across 4 funding rounds.
Key people at klout.
klout was founded in 2008 by Binh Tran (CTO / Co-founder).
klout has raised $71.0M in total across 4 funding rounds.
Klout, based in San Francisco, United States, developed a platform and mobile app that utilized social media analytics to quantify users' online influence through a proprietary "Klout Score." This numerical value, ranging from 1 to 100, was derived from network size and content interactions, assessing how content drove actions across various social networks for individuals, businesses, and brands. The company's customer base primarily consisted of small companies (1-10 employees, <$1M revenue) in the internet, retail, and consumer services sectors. Prior to its acquisition by Lithium Technologies, Klout had secured approximately $200 million in total funding, achieving an enterprise value estimated between $120 million and $180 million, and maintained a team of 11-50 employees. In March 2013, Klout introduced business analytics features for brands, though its parent company Lithium ultimately shut down the platform in 2018. Klout was founded in 2008.
Klout was a technology company that developed a platform to measure social media influence by assigning users a "Klout Score" based on their activity and engagement across multiple social networks. It served individuals, brands, and businesses by quantifying their online influence to help them understand and leverage their social media impact. Klout’s product addressed the problem of measuring intangible social influence in a data-driven way, gaining rapid growth with millions of users and partnerships before ceasing operations in 2018 due to regulatory and market challenges[1][2][3].
Founded in 2008 by Joe Fernandez and others, Klout emerged from the idea of quantifying social influence in a digital age where social media was rapidly expanding. Early traction came as the platform integrated data from Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and later other networks like Instagram and Google+, enabling users to track their influence scores and claim perks from brand partnerships. The company’s acquisition by Lithium Technologies in 2014 for $200 million marked a pivotal moment, but Klout ultimately shut down in 2018 following the introduction of the European GDPR privacy regulations[1][3].
Klout rode the wave of social media’s rise and the growing importance of online personal branding and influencer marketing. Its timing was crucial as brands sought measurable ways to identify and engage influential users. The platform helped pioneer the concept of social influence metrics, influencing how marketers and platforms think about digital reputation and engagement. However, increasing concerns about privacy and data control, culminating in GDPR, highlighted the challenges of handling personal data at scale. Klout’s shutdown reflected broader market and regulatory shifts impacting data-driven social analytics[1][3].
Although Klout ceased operations in 2018, its legacy persists in the influencer marketing and social analytics tools that followed. Future trends shaping this space include enhanced privacy protections, AI-driven sentiment and influence analysis, and deeper integration of offline and online influence metrics. Companies building on Klout’s foundation will likely focus on transparency, user control over data, and more nuanced influence measures beyond simple scoring. Klout’s story underscores the balance between innovation in social data and evolving regulatory landscapes, offering lessons for future tech ventures in social analytics.
Key people at klout.
klout has raised $71.0M across 4 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $30.0M Other Equity in April 2012.
klout was founded in 2008 by Binh Tran (CTO / Co-founder).
klout has raised $71.0M in total across 4 funding rounds.
klout's investors include Bing Gordon, 10100, 2xN, Accel, Acequia Capital, AME Cloud Ventures, Amplify.LA, Ascend Vietnam Ventures, Avalon Ventures, Bedrock Capital, Benchmark, Blumberg Capital.
