tag:www.readwriteweb.com,2011:/1/tag:72.47.210.69,2006://1.4856- 2011-04-29T12:31:52Z Comments for Massive sells to Microsoft - another kiwi millionaire Movable Type 4.35-en tag:72.47.210.69,2006://1.4856 2006-05-21T22:51:10Z 2007-12-16T23:16:04Z Massive sells to Microsoft - another kiwi millionaire Richard MacManus http://www.readwriteweb.com A few weeks ago it was revealed that Microsoft had acquired online gaming advertising platform Massive for "between $200-$400 million". Now I've discovered that a kiwi (from Wellington of course!) was one of the co-founders. According to this NZ Herald story, 31-year-old Wellingtonian Claudia Batten founded Massive Inc four years ago with two expat Australians in New York. They developed pioneering software that dynamically delivers advertising into online video games:

"Tapping into the "Lost Boys" market - hard-to-target 18- to 34-year-old males - was the key to the company's success, Batten said.

"We told advertisers: 'We've found the Lost Boys. They're playing games and we can get you in front of them'."

Speaking to the Herald on Sunday from Seattle, Batten was coy about how much she got from the sale, reported at between US$200-400 million ($643m). "It's all under wraps. I'm really pleased with the outcome, it's better left at that," she laughed."

Thanks Dave ten Have for the tip. There's a lot of software talent in Wellington - TradeMe (NZ's eBay) got bought for nearly half a billion US dollars in March and AfterMail went for US$45M in January. Must be something in the water here :-)

]]> tag:72.47.210.69,2006://1.4856-comment:37390 Comment from Ajit Jaokar on 2006-05-22 Ajit Jaokar http://www.opengardensblog.futuretext.com and we hope to see you in that list some day Richard! rgds Ajit

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