Near Expands US Footprint with Acquisition of Data Insights Platform UM

April 30, 2021 — Near, one of the world’s largest sources of intelligence on people and places, today announced it is acquiring data insights leader, UM (formerly UberMedia). The strategic acquisition of UM will enable Near to enhance its portfolio of data intelligence products for its customers in the US market

UM is a leading provider of data insights and analytics solutions for Fortune 100 and 500 organizations, large research firms, universities and more. The company’s innovative technology platform, Vista, specializes in aggregating, cleansing and contextualizing large data sets to inform more timely, accurate and strategic business decisions. Customers include RAND Corporation, Hawaii Tourism Authority, Columbia University, Yale University and many others.

Joining forces will enable Near and UM to leverage their combined expertise in data intelligence and analytics to help organizations globally access the insights they need to drive digital transformation initiatives. Both companies experienced significant growth in 2020 despite the challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic.

UM will become Near Americas headquartered in Pasadena, California. The CEO of UM, Gladys Kong, will join Near’s executive team as CEO of Near Americas.

“We knew the day would come when we’d find the perfect company to join forces with to scale our technology to reach even broader audiences—and we found that in Near,” said Gladys Kong, CEO, UM. “Our focus has been on making data accessible in order to accelerate digital transformation across all sectors—and we’re incredibly proud of what we have achieved. We’re excited to embark on this next chapter and look forward to even greater success with our new partner.”

Source: UM