Lime buys Userlike

The Swedish company is forking out 20 million euros for the Cologne-based start-up. Userlike will continue to operate independently.

The Swedish company Lime has acquired the chatbot provider Userlike for 19.8 million euros. The Swedish software developer wants to expand its portfolio and gain a foothold in the German market. However, the Cologne-based start-up is to remain largely independent.

Userlike was founded in 2011 and offers chatbots and website messaging for companies, among other things. The start-up's approximately 2,000 customers include companies such as Allianz, Lufthansa, Porsche and BMW. Since 2014, Userlike has grown by around 30 percent per year. Co-founder David Voswinkel most recently held just under 49% of the shares in Userlike, with Timoor Taufig holding just under 44%. Almost 40 people work for the Cologne-based SaaS start-up.

"The integration into an internationally successful group of companies will help us to develop our software faster, grow stronger as a company and realize long-term visions," Taufig told Rheinische Post.

Initially, Lime will buy 90 percent of the shares. The Swedes intend to acquire the remaining ten percent in two years' time. Lime also plans to open an office in Cologne from August. Userlike will operate independently of the parent company. The start-up will be allowed to sell the products separately and under the old name. At the same time, Lime wants to integrate the software into its own software as an add-on. Lime offers a customer relationship management system (CMR).