FloNetwork

FloNetwork

Formerly	Media Synergy Inc.
Industry	marketing
Founded	1993
Founder	Paul Chen Mina Lux
Headquarters	Canada

FloNetwork was an eMarketing Application Service Provider (ASP) that specialized in permission- based Internet direct marketing and communications services. The company, which was privately held until its acquisition by Doubleclick^[1] (now owned by Google), operated as an ASP and enabled clients to send mass email campaigns. Flonetwork was an early leader in the permission-based online direct marketing and communications market.

History

Toronto-based FloNetwork was cofounded in 1993 by entrepreneurs Paul Chen and Mina Lux, under the name Media Synergy Inc. In November 1999 the company changed its name to FloNetwork Inc. Its initial business involved the development, sale and licensing of multimedia consumer software products. In 1998, they began developing and selling e-mail messaging software applications and services. In January 1999, they discontinued the development, sale and licensing of multimedia consumer software products and adopted a business strategy to offer e-mail messaging services over a hosted technology platform, quickly becoming a leader in the field.^[2]

Products

FloNetwork offered a suite of hosted applications and services to handle all aspects of permission-based email messaging campaigns, including designing email messages, building and managing email address lists, testing and deploying email messaging campaigns and real-time tracking, reporting and analysis of results. As an early provider, the company quickly became recognized as a leader in the field, including articles in the NY Times, Business 2.0, and The Wall Street Journal.^[3]

Early customers

FloNetwork quickly became a leader and established a strong customer base early on, including well-known companies including barnesandnoble.com, buy.com, CNET, Careerpath, CMP, Experian, Hallmark, Ingram Micro, Internet World, J. Crew, Meredith Corporation, Omaha Steaks and Virgin Records.^[4]

Awards

FloNetwork was recognized by Deloitte & Touche in 2000 as a winner of the Canadian Technology Fast 50 award, becoming the first email marketing ASP worldwide to receive this award. It was also recognized in the top half of the Fast500 for technology companies in North America.^[5]

Acquisition by Doubleclick

In 2001, Doubleclick (now owned by Google) acquired Flonetwork for $80M.^[6]

References

1. Roundup, A. WSJ com News (2001-02-26). "DoubleClick Plans to Acquire E-Mail Marketer FloNetwork". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2017-10-18.
2. By CLAUDIA H. DEUTSCHJUNE 26, 2000 (2000-06-26). "Compressed Data; By Any Other Name, Is It Spam? - The New York Times". The New York Times. Retrieved 2018-02-19.
3. "Archived copy". www.flonetwork.com. Archived from the original on 9 June 2002. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
4. "New Straits Times - Google News Archive Search".
5. "Fast 50 - 2000 Winners". Archived from the original on 2010-10-12. Retrieved 2010-04-15.
6. "Company News; Doubleclick, An Online Advertiser, Adds Flonetwork". The New York Times. Reuters. 2001-02-24. Retrieved 2018-02-19.