A significant shift towards promoting gender equality in the tech world has been heralded with the rare acquisition of Collabosaurus, Australia's brand collaboration platform. The company, founded by Jessica Ruhfus, has been bought over by a fellow woman in tech and seasoned marketing agency leader, Lauren Swidenbank. The acquisition marks a minority occurrence in the tech world, where all-female founder exits account for a paltry 0.8% of total exit value.
Since its inception in 2015, Collabosaurus has witnessed a steep growth trajectory, averaging more than 84% yearly growth and achieving a stellar profit margin of 46.8%. The platform scores by pairing brands for mutually beneficial marketing collaborations and counts significant names such as Microsoft, Cointreau, Walmart, Marks & Spencer, and ASOS amongst its 10,700 brands portfolio.
Lauren Swidenbank, the CEO and Founder of Cali Social is an esteemed leader in the digital advertising space, recognised with awards like 'Digital Marketer of the Year' and 'Best Advertising Campaign for QLD.' At the helm of her multi-award-winning agency, she specialises in driving female-first brands to seven-figure success through data-driven, high-impact advertising campaigns.
Swidenbank conveyed her enthusiasm for the acquisition of Collabosaurus. She expressed excitement about the scalability and potential of Collabosaurus, highlighting its unique model that fosters mutually beneficial marketing collaborations in a competitive and uncertain economic landscape.
Lauren Swidenbank said, "I'm excited about the scalability and potential of Collabosaurus and was impressed by the platform's unique model fostering win/win marketing collaborations amidst rising saturation and an uncertain economy. I will be focused on leveraging my background in performance marketing to continue the growth trajectory of the brand and enhance Collabosaurus' market presence."
The platform's successful model of match-making brands for smart marketing collaborations offers a unique and cost-effective solution for businesses keen on expanding their outreach and influence. Both Swidenbank and Ruhfus, being award-winning professionals, saw an excellent opportunity to scale Collabosaurus further, especially in the overseas luxury brand sector.
Jessica Ruhfus, the Founder of Collabosaurus, expressed her thoughts on the rapid acquisition, highlighting that the process began organically over dinner. She mentioned a shared vision for the brand's future with Lauren and expressed full confidence in Lauren's leadership to drive Collabosaurus forward. This indicates a smooth and collaborative transition, emphasising alignment in their outlook for the brand's trajectory.
Jessica Ruhfus said, "The organic and swift acquisition process began over dinner. We both had a shared vision for the future of the brand, and I have full confidence that Lauren's leadership will continue to propel Collabosaurus forward."
Ruhfus' decision to sell the company is fuelled by her aspirations to focus on her eCommerce brand, No.2, in the home fragrance category.
Swidenbank sees the acquisition as a strategic move to expand into tech and leverage Collabosaurus's unique position in the market. Lauded globally for steering her performance marketing agency, Cali Social, towards specialising in female-first brands, this acquisition marks a significant advancement in diversifying leadership within the tech sector.