Wattpad

Wattpad — Funding & Company Data

Financial overview and investor data for Wattpad.

High confidence data Last verified 4 months ago

Founded

2006

Stage

Acquired

Total Raised

$117.8M

HQ

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Team

201-500

Model

freemium

Acquired

Wattpad was acquired by Naver Corporation on May 10, 2021 .

Analyst Take

Wattpad's funding history demonstrates a consistent ability to attract significant investment from a diverse group of venture capitalists and strategic partners. The early-stage funding from investors like Union Square Ventures and Khosla Ventures validated their initial vision of a social storytelling platform. The later, more substantial rounds, particularly the Series D led by Tencent, signaled a strategic move towards monetization and global expansion, especially within the Asian market. The culmination of this funding journey was the acquisition by Naver, a logical step that provided a successful exit for investors and integrated Wattpad into a larger, synergistic digital entertainment powerhouse. This acquisition by a major international technology company like Naver provides Wattpad with substantial long-term stability and resources. It removes the constant pressure of fundraising and allows the company to focus on product development and user growth under the umbrella of a well-capitalized parent. For users, this means the platform is highly likely to remain a going concern with continued investment in its features and content.

Stability

Wattpad's stability is very high. The acquisition by Naver Corporation, a major South Korean internet conglomerate, provides substantial financial backing and a strategic home for the platform.

Growth

Following its acquisition, Wattpad is in a strong growth position as part of Naver's digital content arm, which includes Webtoon. While there was a workforce reduction in early 2023 to adjust to economic conditions, the focus remains on expanding its user base and content monetization.

For Buyers

For users considering Wattpad, the acquisition by Naver significantly reduces the risk of platform instability. The company is now part of a large, well-funded international corporation, ensuring its longevity and continued development for the foreseeable future.

Funding Timeline

Series D $51M January 2018

Investors: Tencent Holdings, BDC, Kickstart Ventures, Peterson Group, Canso, Raine Ventures

Valuation: $398M

Series C $46M April 2014

Investors: OMERS Ventures, August Capital, Raine Ventures, Northleaf Capital Partners

Series B $17.3M June 2012

Investors: Khosla Ventures, Union Square Ventures, Golden Venture Partners, Jerry Yang

Series A $3.5M September 2011

Investors: Union Square Ventures, Golden Venture Partners, W Media Ventures

Seed January 2010

Notable Investors

Tencent Holdings OMERS Ventures Khosla Ventures Union Square Ventures BDC August Capital Golden Venture Partners Raine Ventures

Sources

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