Loading organizations...
PBworks has raised $6.0M across 2 funding rounds.
Key people at PBworks.
PBworks was founded in 2005 by David E. Weekly (Founder, Chief Product Officer, and Chairman).
PBworks has raised $6.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
PBworks offers a suite of collaboration products designed to enhance business efficiency and effectiveness through structured workspaces. These products, including Agency Hub, Legal Hub, and Project Hub, provide specific tools for critical business processes within professional services. The platform emphasizes unique collaboration capabilities such as structured metadata and comprehensive management reporting to facilitate organized and transparent team efforts.
The company was founded in 2005, with Chris Yeh identified as a founder, and was instrumental in pioneering the freemium Software-as-a-Service business model. The initial insight centered on creating adaptable online environments that supported varied collaborative needs across different industries, moving beyond generic platforms to deliver specialized solutions for professional firms. This foundation enabled the development of targeted hubs for distinct market segments.
Millions of users rely on PBworks each month for diverse applications like partner/client collaboration, new business development, and knowledge management. The company serves advertising and marketing agencies, law firms, and educational institutions, alongside the broader business market. PBworks’ long-term vision involves continuous innovation in collaborative tools, aiming to further integrate advanced features that streamline operations and foster more productive and interconnected work environments.
PBworks has raised $6.0M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $4.0M Series A in May 2008.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 1, 2008 | $4M Series A | — | Combustion Ventures | Announced |
| Jan 1, 2007 | $2M Seed | — | Combustion Ventures | Announced |
PBworks is a SaaS collaboration platform founded in 2005 that pioneered the freemium model, offering tools for real-time collaborative editing, project management, knowledge sharing, and intranets.[1][2] It serves professional services firms like advertising agencies, law firms, and education providers through specialized products such as Agency Hub, Legal Hub, Project Hub, and Business Hub, solving problems in partner/client collaboration, new business development, and document management for millions of monthly users including Deloitte, Financial Times, and universities like DePaul and Toronto.[1][2] With steady growth since its 2008 rebrand from PBwiki and product expansions post-2010, PBworks maintains a niche in efficient team workflows amid broader collaboration software adoption.[1][3]
PBworks originated in 2005 when David Weekly launched "PeanutButterWiki" (later PBwiki, then PBworks), aiming to make wiki creation as simple as "making a peanut butter sandwich," with co-founders Ramit Sethi and Nathan Schmidt joining soon after.[2] The public beta debuted May 31, 2005, with formal launch in June, quickly gaining traction via its freemium SaaS approach that Weekly pioneered.[1][2] Key pivots included PBworks 2.0 in 2008 (enhanced security, layout, customization), Mobile Edition in 2009, and specialized hubs since 2010 for sectors like agencies and legal.[1][2] In 2008, Jim Groff (ex-Oracle SVP, TimesTen CEO, Apple exec, MIT/Harvard alum) became CEO, with Weekly shifting to Chief Product Officer/Chairman; backers included Mohr Davidow Ventures, Seraph Group, Ron Conway, and angel Chris Yeh (later VP Marketing, Stanford/Harvard).[1][2]
PBworks rides the enduring wave of collaboration software evolution, from 1980s groupware (Lotus Notes) through Web 2.0 social tools and SharePoint's mainstreaming, positioning as a lightweight alternative to heavy enterprise suites amid remote/hybrid work demands.[3] Its 2005 freemium timing capitalized on SaaS democratization, influencing ecosystems by enabling cost-effective intranets/extranets for SMBs and enterprises, cutting IT overhead (e.g., legal firms ditching legacy systems).[1][2][3] In today's landscape, it counters "online shared drives are not enough" critiques by blending wiki flexibility with project management, fostering efficiency in professional services while major players like Microsoft dominate general markets—PBworks thrives via vertical focus.[3]
PBworks' niche mastery in structured collaboration for services firms positions it for sustained relevance as AI-enhanced workflows and hybrid teams amplify demand for intuitive, metadata-rich tools beyond generic platforms.[3] Expect expansions in AI-driven reporting or deeper integrations with CRM/project tools, leveraging its 20-year data moat and small team (11 employees, ~$5.7M revenue) for agile innovation.[5] Influence may grow via partnerships in underserved verticals, evolving from wiki pioneer to essential hub amid collaboration fatigue with bloated alternatives—reinforcing its foundational role in making team efficiency as straightforward as its peanut butter origins.[1][2]
Key people at PBworks.
PBworks was founded in 2005 by David E. Weekly (Founder, Chief Product Officer, and Chairman).
PBworks has raised $6.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
PBworks's investors include Combustion Ventures.
