Paves the way for platform launch in Germany in Q3 2016
people.io - the service that allows consumers to dynamically license their data and attention to brands and be rewarded for it, today announced a major strategic partnership with Wayra Munich, the Telefónica backed accelerator programme. The deal, which combines six figure financial backing with strategic support to help develop the business will allow this exciting start-up to expand its reach onto mainland Europe by the end of the year.
Since its UK announcement in January 2016, people.io has enjoyed meteoric success with thousands of beta users registered for the service, helping to refine the experience ahead of a nationwide roll out later in the year. The partnership with Wayra Munich means that people.io is set to launch operations in Germany by Q3 2016 reaching Europe’s largest consumer market. people.io aims to reward users for taking control of their personal data, help them better engage with the brands they want to hear from and receive a fairer value exchange in return.
As part of Telefónica Open Future_, Wayra Munich is charged with identifying start-ups which help meet their overall strategic goals. The programme gives people.io access to not only funding but the best brains in the business across technology, programming, UX and marketing to help it scale rapidly. people.io’s founder and CEO, Nicholas Oliver will also be personally mentored by media industry veteran John Craig and Florian Marquart, Director of Digitalization at Telefónica Germany.
Nicholas Oliver, founder and CEO of people.io said of the deal: “Less than a year ago, people.io was a passion-led vision and a few slides in a deck. It’s incredible to think how far we’ve come with a handful of dedicated people, hard work, late nights and incredible industry support. This deal with one of Europe’s most respected accelerator programmes, backed by one of the world’s biggest telcos will enable us to take our vision and scale at an even faster rate. Germany is a particularly interesting market to us as it leads the way in data privacy and EU regulation. The support we have had from both Telefónica Germany and Wayra Munich has really helped us refine our business and prepare for growth and we are now looking to hire a great team in market.”
Garan Goodman, Managing Director, Wayra Munich added:
“We strongly believe that results gained from big data analysis will lead to new ideas and solutions in various spheres of life – including mobility, health, private consumption and public administration. In this context, people.io is a great example how customers can strike a balance between benefits their data provide while at the same time putting them back in control over their personal data. Nicholas Oliver stands out in a crowded market of
entrepreneurs who want to change the world. Coupled with the clear focus on the management of consumer data, investing in people.io was a no brainer for Wayra Munich.”
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About people.io
people.io is a marketplace that puts consumers back in control by allowing them to dynamically license their data and attention to brands. The platform enables consumers to earn credits by sharing information and engaging with content or updates from relevant, local businesses. Credits can be exchanged for products and subscriptions from your favourite brands or even given as a donation to charity. people.io will never share an individual’s data with third parties. All user data remains under licence from the consumer, with the option to opt-out and have their data deleted from the platform at any time.
Behind people.io is a team committed to putting consumers first. Using their expertise from the worlds of advertising, finance and consumer tech industries, they’re working hard to put people back in control of their data. For far too long, consumers have been subject to irrelevant, intrusive marketing with nothing in return for their data. We think now is the time to change.
About Nicholas Oliver, Founder
Nic is a digital evangelist with a breadth of experience in business and innovation. He launched his first digital production company at the tender age of 15 and since then has built a stellar career in the advertising, marketing and digital innovation sector. As Global Creative Technical Director for Team Detroit (WPP) he worked with Ford Motor Company to identify emerging technologies and partnerships that could create more authentic consumer conversations.
Throughout his career, Nic’s focus has been on creating the best experience for the consumer, as he believes that great experiences create the best forms of engagement. It was seeing how brands are constantly looking for better ways to engage consumers meaningfully that inspired Nic to set up people.io.
