{{Short description|Software-as-a-service company}} {{COI|date=May 2016}} {{More citations needed|date=March 2022}} {{Infobox company | name = Bloomfire | industry = software-as-a-service | founded = {{start date and age|2010}} | founder = Josh Little | hq_location = Austin, Texas | key_people = Ben Little<small>(Current CEO)</small><br>Mark Hammer <small>(Former CEO)</small><br>Craig Malloy<small>(Former CEO)</small> | website = [http://www.bloomfire.com bloomfire.com] }} '''Bloomfire''' is a software-as-a-service company based in Austin, Texas. The business creates web-based software applications that aim to increase virtual knowledge-and-insights-sharing in the workplace.<ref name=2Gig>{{cite web|last=Novet|first=Jordan|title=Bloomfire nets $8M, adds features to its SaaS for sharing knowledge|url=http://gigaom.com/2013/03/06/bloomfire-nets-8m-adds-features-to-its-saas-for-sharing-knowledge|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130308014811/http://gigaom.com/2013/03/06/bloomfire-nets-8m-adds-features-to-its-saas-for-sharing-knowledge/|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 8, 2013|work=Gigaom|access-date=11 April 2013}}</ref> It was founded in 2010 by Josh Little,<ref>{{cite news|title=Little's Bloomfire ablaze in its industry|url=http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/north/lehi/little-s-bloomfire-ablaze-in-its-industry/article_a13ed6d0-c486-52f8-b9dd-a0caf992507b.html|newspaper=Daily Herald|date=May 15, 2012|author=Allred, Cathy|archive-date=March 5, 2014|access-date=January 19, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140305060238/http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/north/lehi/little-s-bloomfire-ablaze-in-its-industry/article_a13ed6d0-c486-52f8-b9dd-a0caf992507b.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> and originally headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah.<ref name=8ABJ>{{cite web|last=Calnan|first=Christopher|title=Downtown Austin: The place to be for techies|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/print-edition/2012/08/17/downtown-becoming-place-to-be.html|work=Austin Business Journal|access-date=11 April 2013}}</ref> The company is now headquartered in Austin, Texas and is backed by investors such as Austin Ventures.<ref name=3ST>{{cite web|last=Hawkins|first=Lori|title=Two new deals add to early rush of venture funding for Austin companies|url=http://www.statesman.com/news/business/two-new-deals-add-to-early-rush-of-venture-funding/nWzZ3|work=Statesman.com|access-date=11 April 2013|archive-date=27 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130327031551/http://www.statesman.com/news/business/two-new-deals-add-to-early-rush-of-venture-funding/nWzZ3/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The current CEO is Ben Little.
==Overview== Bloomfire products allow companies to share and search for information, insights, and research on a web-based application platform.<ref name=5CMS>{{cite web|last= Petrocelli|first= Tom|title= How to make social collaboration features more meaningful|url= http://www.cmswire.com/cms/social-business/how-to-make-social-collaboration-features-more-meaningful-020318.php|work= CMS Wire|access-date= 11 April 2013}}</ref> The software application "Bloomfire", launched in 2012, allows users to create team communities where people can post questions and answers, add or create new content, and search or browse existing content. The software aims to increase accessibility to information within a company so employees have the knowledge they need to work efficiently.<ref name="7GA">{{cite web|url=http://www.getapp.com/blog/bloomfire-review|title=An Innovative Approach to Knowledge Sharing – a review of Bloomfire|last=Rakesh|first=Sharma|work=GetApp|access-date=11 April 2013}}</ref> The application can be accessed from a device connected to the internet.
Bloomfire supports 53 file types, and content can be uploaded in the form of videos, audio files, images, slide decks, or text documents.<ref name="2Gig" /><ref name="4ST" /> The platform also has automatic video and audio transcription capabilities and makes the text of its transcripts searchable.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.kmworld.com/Articles/News/News/Video-transcription-and-search-from-Bloomfire-103431.aspx|title=Video transcription and search from Bloomfire|date=2015-04-22|website=www.kmworld.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-09}}</ref>
The application is available for an annual fee, and the company has several hundred customers.{{citation needed|date=February 2017}} Bloomfire provides software for companies such as Capital One, Southwest Airlines, and Conagra.<ref name="4ST" /><ref name="7GA" /> Bloomfire targets its Bloomfire software towards insights and market research, customer support, sales, and marketing teams, but it also applies to other business domains. Users have access to phone and email support, as well as online support.<ref name="7GA" />
==History== The previous CEO of Bloomfire, Craig Malloy, had an 18-year career in videoconferencing before buying Bloomfire in 2010 with Co-Founder David Mccann.<ref name=4ST>{{cite web|last=Hawkins|first=Lori|title=Austin-based Bloomfire raises $8 million to expand its business|url=http://www.statesman.com/news/business/austin-based-bloomfire-raises-8-million-to-expand-/nWh2f|work=Statesman.com|access-date=11 April 2013|archive-date=22 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140522105923/http://www.statesman.com/news/business/austin-based-bloomfire-raises-8-million-to-expand-/nWh2f/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
The current CEO is Mark Hammer, who has been with the company since 2014.<ref name="mhceo">{{cite web |last1=Jacobson |first1=Madeline |title=Bloomfire names Mark Hammer as CEO |url=https://www.prweb.com/releases/bloomfire_names_mark_hammer_as_ceo/prweb16123922.htm |access-date=9 April 2019 |website=Cision PR Web }}</ref> Hammer has more than 20 years of experience in leadership with software companies and has previously held senior management roles at SmartBear Software, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, and Compass Learning.<ref name="mhceo" />
==Awards and recognition== In 2012, Bersin & Associates named Bloomfire in their Learning Leaders Winners in the Vendor Innovation in Learning and Talent Management: Informal Category.<ref name=9RO>{{cite web|title=Bersin & Associates Announces the 2012 Learning Leaders ™ Winner and Complimentary Research Report Showcasing Strategies for Success|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/08/idUS166259+08-Feb-2012+GNW20120208|work=Reuters Online|access-date=11 April 2013|archive-date=26 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120726190658/http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/08/idUS166259+08-Feb-2012+GNW20120208|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2012, Bloomfire was named a Brandon Hall Gold Award winner for Best Advance in Social Learning Technology.<ref name=10BHG>{{cite web|title=2012 Excellence Awards|url=http://go.brandonhall.com/Excellence_Awards_Home|work=Brandon Hall Group|access-date=11 April 2013}}</ref>
Bloomfire received a Brandon Hall Gold Award for Excellence in Technology in 2015. Bloomfire also received a Bronze Stevie Award in 2017 for Sales & Customer Service and a Silver Stevie Award in 2018 for Sales & Customer Service.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://stevieawards.com/sales/2018-stevie%C2%AE-award-winners|title=2018 Stevie® Award Winners {{!}} Stevie Awards|website=stevieawards.com|access-date=2019-05-09}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://stevieawards.com/sales/2017-stevie%C2%AE-award-winners|title=2017 Stevie® Award Winners {{!}} Stevie Awards|website=stevieawards.com|access-date=2019-05-09}}</ref> The company was also named to the Austin Business Journal's list of ''Best Places to Work'' in 2015, 2016, and 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/news/2016/06/24/the-best-places-to-work-in-2016-the-winners-how.html|title=The Best Places to Work in 2016 — the winners, how they rank and what makes them so cool|last=|first=|date=|website=www.bizjournals.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815192148/http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/news/2016/06/24/the-best-places-to-work-in-2016-the-winners-how.html |archive-date=2016-08-15 |access-date=2019-05-09}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/news/2018/05/09/the-results-are-in-here-are-austins-best-places-to.html|title=The results are in: Here are Austin's Best Places to Work for 2018|last=|first=|date=|website=www.bizjournals.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191003173742/https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/news/2018/05/09/the-results-are-in-here-are-austins-best-places-to.html |archive-date=2019-10-03 |access-date=2019-05-09}}</ref> In 2017, Bloomfire's CFO, Bill Tole, received the Austin Business Journal's Best CFO Award.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/news/2017/07/13/best-cfos-2017-bill-tole-of-bloomfire-stays-on-top.html|title=Best CFOs 2017: Bill Tole of Bloomfire stays on top of his game by keeping an open mind|last=|first=|date=|website=www.bizjournals.com|access-date=2019-05-09}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==Further reading== * {{cite web | last=Gazette | first=Photo courtesy Kalamazoo | title=Powering social learning: Bloomfire formalizes informal learning for companies | website=MLive.com | date=March 5, 2010 | url=http://www.mlive.com/business/west-michigan/index.ssf/2010/03/powering_social_learning_bloom.html | access-date=October 12, 2016}}
Category:American companies established in 2010 Category:Software companies based in Texas Category:2010 establishments in Utah Category:Software companies established in 2010 Category:Companies based in Austin, Texas