SurveyMonkey Buys Stake in Clicktools

US-based DIY survey firm SurveyMonkey has acquired a 49.9% stake in the UK's Clicktools, which develops on-demand software tools for gathering customer feedback. Terms were not disclosed.

Under the deal, the firms will form a partnership to provide cloud-based survey tools integrated with Salesforce CRM, while cross-promoting their products.

Poole, Dorset-based Clicktools, which also has an office in Las Vegas in the US, was founded in 2000 by CEO, David Jackson (pictured).

The firm's software helps clients collect customer satisfaction information from web forms, e-mails, or via call centre scripts, and use it to improve customer service. In addition, survey responses can be linked to any information in Salesforce CRM, and certain survey responses will trigger specific follow-up actions with customers.

'We recognized early on the tremendous power of integrating surveys with CRM applications such as Salesforce,' Jackson explains. 'Clicktools' partnership with SurveyMonkey will allow us to bring those benefits to SurveyMonkey customers, increase the total addressable market and expand our footprint.'

Last November, SurveyMonkey secured $100m in debt financing, which it said at the time would be used to retire debt in preparation for making future acquisitions.

SurveyMonkey's VP of Business Strategy Brent Chudoba, and VP of Business Operations and Finance, Tim Maly, will join Clicktools' Board of Directors.

Web sites: www.surveymonkey.com and www.clicktools.com .