GovDelivery adds mobile platform through latest acquisition

GovDelivery has acquired the Textizen mobile messaging platform as part of the company’s effort to meet increased demand for mobile messaging with government organizations.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

Textizen is a platform that allows the government to reach the public via mobile messaging to promote citizen action, engagement and behavior change.  

The acquisition will offer a new level of interactivity to its government customers, GovDelivery said in a release.

Textizen scaled a solution for Code of America’s Incubator program that showed measurable results in public participation, human services and youth outreach.

“The city was looking for ways to engage [those] who wouldn’t typically come to a two hour public meeting,” said Michelle Lee, Textizen co-founder. “It is part of a larger trend where today’s government understands that people want to connect with them but aren’t necessarily able to do it in the traditional channel.”

The two companies were introduced by an executive at the Code for America organization and began a partnership prior to the acquisition, Lee said.

The entire Textizen team will be joining GovDelivery following the acquisition.

“Over the next six months, we’ll be focusing specifically on the Texizen platform. Beyond that, we can see a lot of opportunities for [both entities] in terms of using different channels and different media to connect government and citizens,” Lee told Washington Technology.