Wazap!
IndustryGaming, Search Engine
FoundedTokyo, Japan (December 2003)
FoundersAndreas Rührig, Markus Ken Baron & Timo Meyer
Headquarters
Tokyo
,
Japan
WebsiteWazap!

Wazap! is a vertical search engine, video game database and social networking site to distribute gaming news, rankings, cheats, downloads and reviews owned and operated by East Beam Co. Ltd. of Japan. As a vertical search engine, it indexes gaming sites and categorizes the information as news, reviews, cheats, downloads, previews and articles.

History

Wazap first launched in Japan in 2001 as a community website for gamers.[1] Initially a mix of gaming news and user generated content, Wazap was then redeveloped as a gaming search and information distribution site. Following initial success in Japan, Wazap was launched in other markets, beginning with Germany in 2004 under the auspices of Wazap AG.[2] In November 2006, Wazap launched Wazap (CN) in China. The US version of Wazap launched in June 2007.[3][4]

By 2008, however, Wazap had failed to gain traction outside of Japan, and its German, Chinese and American operations were closed down.[5] As of October 2018, it continues to operate solely in Japan.

Executives

  • Andreas Rührig: CEO & Co-founder[6]
  • Timo Meyer: COO & Co-founder
  • Philip Gienandt: CFO
  • Alexander Piutti: CCO, & General Manager, Europe
  • Jeff Tang: General Manager, China
  • Thom Kozik: General Manager, U.S.

Awards

In 2007, Wazap AG (Germany) earned a 2007 Red Herring Award – European Division.[7] The Red Herring award is noted as a valuable tool in measuring companies that will serve as leaders of innovation in the field of technology.

References

  1. ↑ ['http://www.caucho.com/sales/casestudies/Caucho_Wazap_casestudy.pdf' 'Caucho Wazap Case Study']
  2. ↑ Wellington Partners finances Gaming Portal Wazap!
  3. ↑ Techcrunch: Wazap Coming To America
  4. ↑ VentureBeat: Game Search Engine Wazap launches in US
  5. ↑ 'Wazap legt Bruchlandung hin'
  6. ↑ Wazap and German Innovation
  7. ↑ "Red Herring Europe 100 Winners - 2007" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-05-11. Retrieved 2007-10-31.
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