Portland's Small Society will become part of the world's largest retailer, officials from both companies announced today.
Silicon Valley-based Walmart Labs designs social and mobile platforms for its parent company. Small Society launched three years ago and develops mobile apps for big brands. The terms of the deal weren't disclosed.
"We will continue to build great mobile apps, but now we will focus all of our attention on a single company – the largest one in the world," Small Society cofounder Raven Zachary said in a written statement.
Walmart Labs built a Portland foothold last year, adding five developers to its Portland branch. Small Society's acquisition will bring 13 more employees.
Its product-driven focus caught the attention of Walmart Labs, which has acquired several mobile startups to anchor its growth.
"As we got to know the Small Society founders, they impressed us with their understanding of mobile platforms, their passion for building great products, and their awareness of the unique opportunities for mobile in the retail space," Walmart Labs said in a blog post announcing the acquisition.
Zachary first gained attention in 2008 after launching the official iPhone app for Barack Obama's presidential campaign. He went on to form Small Society with James Keller, a Wieden+Kennedy alum, and Heather Penner. The startup launched apps for brands including Starbucks, Whole Foods, Zipcar and the Democratic National Committee.
–Molly Young, @PDXSmlBizNews
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