DuckDuckGo, the search engine prioritizing user privacy, is looking to invest in startups that share its privacy-centric vision.
The company has announced that it is on the lookout for startups that are seeking funding, as well as those interested in potential partnerships or acquisitions. In a recent blog post, the firm highlighted its SVP of Finance, Mike Marino, and the Director of Corporate and Business Development, Diana Chiu, as contacts for interested parties.
DuckDuckGo noted:
When it comes to early-stage investments, we offer flexibility in deal structures, aim for swift action, and are open to co-investing with other companies, funds, and individuals. Regarding acquisitions, we welcome a variety of businesses committed to safeguarding user privacy.
Established in 2008 by CEO Gabriel Weinberg (depicted above), DuckDuckGo was initially funded solely by Weinberg for three years until it secured its first external investment in 2011. Over the years, the company has attracted approximately $180 million in external funding, with notable backers such as Tiger Global, Union Square Ventures, and individual investors including WhatsApp co-founder Brian Acton and Sir Tim Berners-Lee, the creator of the World Wide Web.
Claiming profitability since 2014 and achieving over $100 million in annual revenue since at least 2021, DuckDuckGo differentiates itself from Google by making money through ads based solely on search keywords rather than exploiting user data. The company also generates revenue from “non-tracking” affiliate relationships with platforms like Amazon and eBay. Recently, DuckDuckGo has expanded beyond search, offering subscription packages that include features such as a VPN.
Private Funding
While DuckDuckGo has traditionally supported privacy-focused non-profits like the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), the Signal Foundation, and The Markup, it has quietly adopted a more entrepreneurial approach to supporting organizations aligned with its mission. Last month, DuckDuckGo participated in a $50 million funding round for generative AI search startup You.com, alongside prominent investors like Nvidia and Salesforce Ventures.
A component of DuckDuckGo’s newly introduced Privacy Pro package includes a personal information removal feature, which scans data broker websites to identify personal data and requests its removal on behalf of users. Interestingly, this service is supported by a startup named Removaly, which DuckDuckGo had quietly acquired back in 2022.
A representative from DuckDuckGo informed TechCrunch that the company has invested in six startups over the last three years, naming You.com, Removaly, and an unannounced AI model training platform called EverArt.
While DuckDuckGo is placing significant emphasis on consumer privacy technology for its investments, it is also extending its focus to companies involved in “search and browsing” as well as “emerging technologies” like generative AI. Its investment in You.com aligns perfectly with this vision, as it offers a “zero-trace” private search mode that claims to surpass DuckDuckGo in privacy.
While DuckDuckGo has already ventured into the worlds of venture capital and mergers & acquisitions, it is now intensifying its efforts by encouraging suitable startups to reach out.
Similar to other corporations with investment arms, ranging from giants like Google to smaller firms like Twilio and Workday, DuckDuckGo plans to invest from its own balance sheet, leveraging its profitability and annual revenues. However, as a relatively smaller private company, it is unlikely to participate in massive pre-IPO funding rounds, focusing instead on early-stage investments.
“This marks the first time we’ve publicly discussed our investments and the strategy behind them,” the spokesperson added. “We wanted this announcement to formalize the initiatives we have been quietly undertaking and to signal to startups, potential partners, and the tech community at large that we are open to collaborating with anyone who shares our vision for a more private Internet.”
Compiled by Techarena.au.
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