TapInfluence to be Acquired by IZEA

In the US, influencer marketing specialist TapInfluence is to be acquired by IZEA, whose online marketplace IZEAx connects brands and publishers with influential content creators. The part-cash, part-stock transaction is valued at approximately $7.08m.

Headquartered in Silicon Valley TapInfluence has developed software which automates the creation, management and measurement of online influencer marketing programs. More than 87,000 registered influencers with audiences on blogs, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube and Vine use TapInfluence to connect with relevant brands and generate revenue from their online presence; while brands and marketers use it to analyse content. The firm's revenue for the year ended December 31st 2017 was approximately $5.9m.

Following the acquisition, the TapInfluence network will complement IZEA's own opt-in network of more than 700,000 registered 'creator accounts', ranging from online influencers to freelance journalists. IZEA says the deal will augment its own software as a service customer base, and provide additional technology capabilities which will eventually be integrated into IZEAx.

Ted Murphy (pictured), founder and CEO of IZEA, comments: 'We are bringing together two of the leading companies in the influencer marketing space, creating an influencer marketing offering that is unparalleled in the industry. This combination will allow us to further enhance our technology, significantly increase marketplace liquidity, and provide incredible customer service'.

Web sites: www.tapinfluence.com and www.izea.com .