Starcount Buys Dunn/Humby's H&D Ventures

Social media analytics firm Starcount has acquired H&D Ventures, the company set up by Tesco Clubcard creators Edwina Dunn and Clive Humby, for an undisclosed sum.

The husband and wife team set up customer science company dunnhumby in 1989, and it later became known as the data firm behind the Tesco Clubcard loyalty scheme. Having sold their final shares in the company to Tesco in 2010, and since set up H&D Ventures, the duo recently invested an undisclosed seven-figure sum in theatre analytics specialist Purple Seven.

As part of the latest deal, the pair now own a 'significant minority equity stake' in Starcount and take seats on its Board. Starcount CEO Drew Thomson says his firm plans to tap into Dunn and Humby's collective expertise to unleash the potential of a new generation of digital 'superfans', which he describes as the 'elite influencers' of the world's 1.7 billion social media users.

Former Airmiles CEO Thomson founded Starcount in 2011, alongside Paul Morrison, who previously helped launch Scottish music festival T in the Park. Their company aggregates data and trends across the world's eleven most popular social media networks, and publishes daily charts of the most popular stars and brands and their biggest fans.

In addition to buying H&D Ventures, the company has also completed a $5m round of funding which included Artemis Capital and Praetura Capital, and as part of which Morgan Stanley Senior Advisor Christopher Carter joins Starcount's Board as Chairman.

Thomson comments: 'Starcount is about unlocking the potential of social media to show brands and stars the secrets of their success, and identify the real influencers. With the world-class experience of Edwina Dunn, Clive Humby and Christopher Carter, we are aiming to change the rules of social engagement, and make sense of the billions of new fans social media has created.'

Web site: www.starcount.com .

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.

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