Qype

Qype was a German web 2.0 company and consumer internet brand focused on local discovery, business listings, user-generated reviews, and social interaction around places. Founded in Hamburg in March 2006 by Stephan Uhrenbacher, the service was initially built for the German market and sought to make local information more useful through contributions from ordinary users rather than relying solely on professionally compiled directories. Its core database covered businesses and public places, while its community features encouraged members to create profiles, exchange comments, upload photographs, and participate in local activities. The company expanded beyond Germany during the late 2000s. Qype UK launched in July 2007 with an English-language interface and content. The service was translated into French in January 2008 in preparation for its French operation, followed by localized versions for additional markets including Spain, Ireland, Austria, Poland, Switzerland, Italy, and Brazil. This localization strategy combined translated interfaces with country- and city-specific listings and communities. Qype became especially visible in major urban areas such as Hamburg, Berlin, London, and Paris, where restaurants, bars, retailers, professional services, cultural venues, hotels, medical providers, automotive businesses, parks, beaches, museums, and other attractions could be searched and reviewed. Participation was central to Qype's model. Users with free verified accounts could write reviews, comment in discussions, add new places, correct business information, and post photographs. Business owners could create or contribute to company profiles, giving them a way to present information and engage with the platform's audience. The service also used community incentives, including competitions and giveaways such as iPod Shuffles and Amazon vouchers, to encourage review creation. In some cities, members competed to be the first person to review a newly listed establishment, with early contributions receiving additional feedback points. Qype also organized member gatherings at local venues and business-to-consumer events, extending the service beyond a static directory. The business received initial funding from Partech Ventures in Paris and Advent Ventures in London. At its height, Qype was described as reaching approximately 22 million unique visitors per month in Europe and operated localized websites in ten countries or territories. Its growth placed it in the same broad competitive field as other local-search and review platforms, particularly Yelp, as consumers increasingly used the internet to choose restaurants, shops, services, and attractions. In October 2012, Yelp announced that it had acquired Qype. Contemporary reporting described the transaction value as approximately US$50 million, although the supplied reference does not establish a more detailed transaction structure. The acquisition ended Qype's independent development as a major standalone platform. Yelp subsequently integrated Qype's review content into its own service, and the merger of Qype reviews into Yelp was reported as complete by October 2013. Qype therefore survives primarily as an acquired brand and a historical example of the European expansion of user-generated local-review platforms rather than as an active consumer service.

Qype was established in Hamburg in March 2006 by Stephan Uhrenbacher as a local-information service for Germany. Its concept combined a searchable directory of businesses and places with social networking and user-generated reviews. Initial funding came from Partech Ventures, based in Paris, and Advent Ventures, based in London. Rather than treating local listings as a purely editorial database, Qype invited members to add places, correct information, upload photographs, and describe their experiences. The company began international expansion in 2007. Qype UK launched in July of that year, adding English-language functionality and content. French translation work followed in January 2008, supporting the subsequent Qype France launch. Through 2011, the company introduced or operated localized versions for further markets, including Switzerland, Austria, Ireland, Poland, Spain, Italy, and Brazil. The service's country websites were intended to support local communities and content rather than merely provide a single globally uniform directory. Qype's features covered both consumer discovery and community participation. Anyone could search the directory, while free verified accounts were required for activities such as posting reviews or contributing to discussions. Profiles included photographs and personal information about location, hobbies, and preferences. Business owners could participate through company profiles. The review scope extended well beyond restaurants and shops: users could write about professional and medical services, automotive providers, hotels, museums, cultural venues, government services, public gardens, beaches, parks, and other attractions. In heavily used cities, Qype developed dense coverage. Places in Hamburg, Berlin, London, and Paris could receive numerous reviews, and members were sometimes motivated to be the first to review a new establishment. Qype rewarded participation through feedback points and promotional incentives, including giveaways of iPod Shuffles and Amazon vouchers. It also supported community events at bars and restaurants and business-to-consumer events for members, reinforcing its identity as a social local-information network rather than only a ratings database. The international service reached approximately 22 million unique European visitors per month according to the supplied reference material. Its growth reflected the broader rise of local search, online recommendations, and consumer-generated business information. Qype competed for attention with other local directories and review platforms, including Yelp, whose international expansion eventually made it a direct strategic counterpart. In October 2012, Yelp announced the acquisition of Qype. The deal was reported at approximately US$50 million, but the available reference does not provide a primary transaction document or additional financial detail. Qype's standalone identity was subsequently absorbed into Yelp. By October 2013, Qype reviews had been merged into the Yelp website. The Qype brand is consequently defunct as an independent platform, while its content and market presence contributed to Yelp's European local-search operations.

• 2013

  Qype review content is integrated into Yelp

  [1]Qypeen.wikipedia.org

  Qype reviews were merged into the Yelp site by October 2013.

• 2012

  Yelp acquires Qype

  [1]Qypeen.wikipedia.org

  Yelp announced its acquisition of Qype in October; contemporary reporting cited an approximate value of US$50 million.

• 2011

  Localized international network expands

  [1]Qypeen.wikipedia.org

  By 2011, Qype had released additional localized versions covering markets including Spain, Ireland, Austria, Poland, Switzerland, Italy, and Brazil.

• 2008

  French localization begins

  [1]Qypeen.wikipedia.org

  Qype translated its website into French in January in preparation for the launch of Qype France.

• 2007

  Qype UK launches

  [1]Qypeen.wikipedia.org

  The company introduced its United Kingdom operation in July, adding English-language interface and content.

• 2006

  Qype is founded in Hamburg

  [1]Qypeen.wikipedia.org

  Stephan Uhrenbacher founded Qype in March 2006 for the German market, with initial funding from Partech Ventures and Advent Ventures.

A community-driven local discovery and review service combining business listings, user recommendations, photographs, discussions, and city-based social activity.

• Internet platform · 2006

  Qype local-review platform

  The core Qype service was a searchable database of local businesses and places supported by user-generated reviews. Members could discover restaurants, retailers, professional services, attractions, public spaces, and other establishments, while contributing descriptions, ratings, photographs, and corrections. The platform combined directory functionality with social profiles, discussions, and city-based community participation.

• Business listing service

  Qype business profiles

  Qype allowed business owners to participate in the platform through company profiles. These profiles formed part of the public directory and gave businesses a way to provide or update basic information while appearing alongside consumer reviews and photographs.

• Social networking

  Qype community features

  Registered users could maintain profiles, join discussions, exchange comments, and take part in community activities. Qype also organized member events at local venues and business-to-consumer events, linking online local discovery with offline participation.

• Review contribution incentives

  Europe

  Qype encouraged users to create reviews through promotional giveaways, including iPod Shuffles and Amazon vouchers, as well as feedback-point incentives for early contributions.

  Outcome. The incentives supported the growth of user-generated local content, although the available reference does not quantify their individual effect.

  Source
• Qype member and local business events

  Europe

  Qype used member gatherings at bars and restaurants and business-to-consumer events to extend its online community into local, in-person activity.

  Outcome. These events reinforced Qype's positioning as a social local-discovery community; no attendance or commercial outcome is provided in the reference.

  Source

• 2012

  Yelp acquisition of QypeM&A

  Background

  Qype had developed a substantial European local-review network, while Yelp was expanding its international local-search business.

  Action taken

  Yelp announced the acquisition of Qype in October 2012.

  Aftermath

  Qype's independent operation was absorbed into Yelp, and its review content was merged into Yelp by October 2013.

  Reported acquisition value. Approximately US$50 million (October 2012 transaction reporting)

  Source

• 2007

  Expand into the United KingdomStrategy

  Background

  After launching for Germany, Qype pursued international growth and needed to adapt its service for English-speaking users.

  Action taken

  Qype launched Qype UK in July 2007 with an English-language interface and content.

  Aftermath

  The United Kingdom became part of Qype's wider localized network, which later extended across additional countries.

  Source

1. 1Qypeen.wikipedia.org