Hypergiant is keeping its AI-driven engines revved up.
The Texas-based startup's Hypergiant Space Age Solutions division announced Tuesday that it is acquiring a Seattle-based startup known for building custom apps for The New York Times and Twitter.
Terms of the deal weren't disclosed. But Hypergiant noted that Black Pixel has audited 2017 revenue of $15.2 million. The company has also had a variety of high-profile clients, which it has made custom apps for. For example, it helped the Times build its NYT Cooking, NYT Now, NYT Opinion and NYT Crossword apps. And they've worked on apps for AppleTV and Starbucks.
It hasn't all been success for Black Pixel, however. The app it made for Twitter for Mac desktops suffered from low ratings in the App Store and was discontinued earlier this year.
Nonetheless, Hypergiant leaders say Black Pixel's talented team and clients are a powerful match with the AI Hypergiant brings to the table.
"I've admired Black Pixel's work for years, watching them create consumer and enterprise applications used by hundreds of millions of people for some of the world's top brands," Hypergiant CEO Ben Lamm said in a news release. "Now, Hypergiant is positioned to supercharge our custom AI solutions for clients across additional industries through Black Pixel's amazing team."
The acquisition comes just a few weeks after Hypergiant launched Hypergiant Sensory Sciences, which is using cameras, sensors and software to help find insights for the oil and gas, health care and defense industries.
Hypergiant, which has offices in Austin, Dallas and Houston, will manage the Black Pixel team, which will largely remain in Seattle, where it was founded in 2007 by Daniel Pasco and George Dick. As part of the deal, Pasco will become director of engineering at Hypergiant Space Age Solutions.
The acquisition will boost Hypergiant Space Age Solutions headcount from around 50 employees to about 100. The full company, called Hypergiant Industries, has about 120 people.
