Business

WP Engine Acquires Flywheel to Move to $1 Billion Valuation

Published

6 years ago

July 13, 2019

Almost 34% of global websites are using WordPress, and one of the key companies, WP engine, is helping to handle the creation and management of some sites hosted by WordPress. WP Engine is a tech leader in the same business, and has acquired Flywheel, which is one of its small competitor. The deal amount has not been disclosed yet but the WP Engine’s CEO and Chairperson, Heather Burner said in an interview that the company is raising a small amount from its existing investors to finance the deal. There are many investors of WP Engine, including Silver Lake, which had added $250 million last year into the company’s finance.

Burner has refused to talk about WP Engine‘s valuation, but she told that the current annual recurring revenue of WP Engine is $132 million and Flywheel is at $18 million. Both the companies will work together to make $200 million ARR by 2020. That means the company will cross $1 billion mark of valuation.

WP Engine plays a powerhouse role in websites’ ecosystem and has numerous numbers of reviews, as it is the early mover in this business. WordPress started supporting it in 2011, and together they are now working on 120,000 brands and agencies in 150 countries. Word Engine mainly focuses on mid-market and large businesses, while Flywheel focused on smaller businesses. There would be more profit from the acquisition because both the companies are natural complements of each other.

WP Engine has made many acquisitions like this earlier as well and it has become a consolidator in the field. The company’s growth efforts will lead it to set a few more acquisitions in the future. Partners of WP Engine after WordPress and Flywheel are Amazon Web Services, Cloudflare, Google, HubSpot, and New Relic.

Business

Geivon “E.G.” Cisneros Expands Zooly AI Into the NHL Playoffs

Published

16 hours ago

May 4, 2025

Matthew Wiles

When the stakes are highest, innovation shines brightest. As the NHL Playoffs brought an electric energy to the ice, entrepreneur Geivon “E.G.” Cisneros and his tech company Zooly AI delivered a first-of-its-kind fan experience for the Tampa Bay Lightning, marking a pivotal moment in the evolution of real-time AI engagement in professional sports.

Leveraging Zooly’s flagship product, Photobomb, fans inside Amalie Arena during playoff games were given an entirely new way to connect with their team. With a simple QR code scan, spectators instantly received dynamic, personalized photos featuring the Lightning mascot ThunderBug, seamlessly inserted into their memories-no app download required, just pure surprise and delight.

In a setting where emotions run high and every moment matters, the Photobomb activation proved that artificial intelligence can enhance the magic of live events rather than distract from it. Fans flooded social media with their custom playoff memories, helping amplify the Lightning’s home-ice advantage beyond the rink and into the digital world.

“The playoffs are where legends are made,” said Geivon “E.G.” Cisneros, founder of Zooly AI. “It was important for us to show that AI can make these moments even more personal, not mechanical. We wanted fans to feel like they weren’t just spectators-they were part of the story.”

The activation drew massive engagement, with QR code scans and social shares surpassing expectations-proving that fans are eager for real-time, culturally connected experiences when the stakes are at their highest. For the Lightning, it deepened fan loyalty. For Zooly, it validated a vision: building the connective tissue between live emotion and intelligent digital interaction.

As Zooly AI continues expanding its footprint across professional sports, the Tampa Bay Lightning playoff activation stands as a landmark moment-one where culture, technology, and tradition collided under the brightest lights.

About Zooly:

Zooly AI is a next-gen artificial intelligence company redefining how fans, brands, and creators connect in real time. With products like Daily Vibes and Photobomb, Zooly blends culture, creativity, and technology to create unforgettable interactive moments. From arenas to digital campaigns, Zooly is powering the next generation of engagement.