Google acquires Bump for US$30m

17 Sep 2013

Google has acquired data sharing firm Bump – the company behind the app that allows smartphone owners to transfer files by simply bumping their devices together – for an estimated US$30m.

The app firm, which has raised US$20m from backers including Sequoia Capital and Andreessen Horowitz, has seen its app downloaded more than 100m times.

The company is also behind popular photo-sharing app Flock.

“Our mission at Bump has always been to build the simplest tools for sharing the information you care about with other people and devices,” said co-founder and CEO David Lieb.

“We strive to create experiences that feel like magic, enabled behind the scene with innovations in math, data processing, and algorithms. So we couldn’t be more thrilled to join Google, a company that shares our belief that the application of computing to difficult problems can fundamentally change the way that we interact with one another and the world.

“Bump and Flock will continue to work as they always have for now; stay tuned for future updates.

We’d like to extend a special thank you to all of you who have used our products so far. It continues to be a pleasure to serve you, and your feedback and evangelism inspire us every day,” Lieb said.

John Kennedy is a journalist who served as editor of Silicon Republic for 17 years

editorial@siliconrepublic.com