Groupon

Groupon is an American e-commerce marketplace founded in November 2008 in Chicago by Andrew Mason, Eric Lefkofsky, and Brad Keywell. The name is a portmanteau of group and coupon. Their first deal was a two-pizzas-for-one offer at Motel Bar in Chicago. Groupon became the fastest company ever to reach a $1 billion valuation in just 16 months, famously rejecting a $6 billion Google acquisition offer in 2010. Going public in November 2011, they raised $700 million - the largest Internet IPO since Google. Operating in 13 countries, Groupon connects subscribers with local merchants offering activities, travel, goods, and services. In May 2018, they acquired Bristol-based Cloud Savings for $65 million.