Copyright Inc. Magazine
When Vobile founder and CEO Yangbin Wang identified an acquisition that could expand his software company’s offerings, he knew he had to act fast. Founded in 2005, Santa Clara, California-based Vobile helps entertainment industry heavyweights such as Paramount and Warner Bros. monetize their digital content and protect copyrights. In 2019, Wang saw an opportunity to offer Vobile’s clients better ways to target viewers on social media by purchasing two lines of business from the AI-powered tech company Zefr. Wang wasn’t looking to give away equity through a private equity investment—Vobile was generating nearly $20 million in annual revenue and growing fast—but the company did need a loan to make the acquisition. Multiple lenders competed to finance the deal, and while Accel-KKR wasn’t the first group Wang met with, he chose the Menlo Park, California-based firm and took out a $30 million loan.
