Mara acquires global messaging platform Nimbuzz

23 Mar 2017
Financial Nigeria

Summary

The Mara and Nimbuzz hybrid will consist of an incubator platform, a smart marketplace and consumer communities.

Ashish J. Thakkar, Founder, Mara Group

Mara Social Media, a diversified African internet and mobile platform focused on emerging markets, said on Thursday that it has acquired the India-based instant messaging and communications platform, Nimbuzz. The social media company is a subsidiary of Mara Group, the pan-African investment conglomerate.

Launched in 2008, Nimbuzz is a cross-platform messaging and mobile calling app that can be installed on computers, smartphones and tablets. The app currently has over 200 million Indian and Middle Eastern subscribers, offering them voice and video call, as well as chat and file sharing services. It is available on Android, iOS, Windows and BlackBerry devices.

“We see a strong momentum for consumer messaging apps, which are set to overtake social media apps globally,” said Anubhav Nagar, CEO of Mara Social Media. “According to reports and current trends, it is clear that social media apps are likely be eclipsed by messaging apps in the next two years. This is the opportunity, which we identified with Nimbuzz.”

Mara plans to integrate the Nimbuzz platform with its existing Mara platforms, including Mara Mentor – a free online mentoring platform that connects entrepreneurs and business leaders globally; and Mara Jobs – an online job platform in emerging markets including Africa and India. The hybrid platform will consist of an incubator platform, a smart marketplace and consumer communities.

Headquartered in Dubai, Mara Group has operations in the banking, real estate, infrastructure and technology sectors. With revenue of approximately $1 billion in 2014, Mara Group employs 11,000 people across 25 African countries.


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