eBuddy is a messaging startup that enables multi-client chat on the web and mobile. Founded in 2003 as e-Messenger and based in Amsterdam, it provides messaging services with a large user database. The company employs 85 full-time staff and reports 300 million IM users in its database. eBuddy recently sold a strategic minority stake to GREE; co-founder Jan-Joost Rueb described the transaction as a "strategic minority investment." The deal resulted in two GREE executives joining eBuddy’s five-member board. No revenue figures for eBuddy are disclosed in the article. eBuddy is a browser-based web chat application that enables users to log into AOL, Google Talk, MSN, MySpace and Yahoo Messenger from its website without additional software. The company originally operated as eMessenger and relaunched as eBuddy in June 2006. According to Comscore, eBuddy and Meebo had roughly comparable worldwide traffic in December 2007 (4.5 million for eBuddy versus 4.8 million for Meebo). eBuddy reports internal metrics of about 12 million monthly unique users and 1.5 million new users added each month. Financially, the company completed a €6.5 million Series B and had previously raised €5 million. The service competes directly with Meebo as a browser-based multi-network instant messaging client. eBuddy (formerly e-Messenger) is a web instant‑messaging service that serves chat sessions in a pop-up window. Founded in 2003 and based in the Netherlands, the company says it has 35 million users worldwide, including 4 million mobile users. eBuddy reports it is adding more than 1.5 million new users every month. The product contrasts with competitors (like Meebo) that embed chat in the primary browser window or via frames. The company announced its first external financing of €5 million from Lowland Capital Partners; no revenue or valuation figures are provided in the article.

Total raised

$16M

Funding rounds

3

Latest round

Series B

Latest activity

Feb 2008