Atolls, formerly known as Global Savings Group (GSG), embarked on its journey in 2012. Founded by Andreas Fruth, Adrian Renner, and Gerhard Trautmann, initially in collaboration with Rocket Internet, the company was first named CupoNation. The early vision centered around creating a platform for online savings, starting with a focus on the coupons segment. This foundation was laid despite the co-founders not having prior e-commerce experience, navigating the then-nascent venture capital and e-commerce landscapes, particularly in Berlin. A pivotal moment in their early days was encountering the Samwer brothers, founders of Rocket Internet, known for successful ventures like Zalando and HelloFresh, which likely provided valuable insights and impetus.
The company's evolution saw a significant name change in 2016 from CupoNation Group to Global Savings Group, reflecting a broader ambition beyond just coupons. This era marked an expansion into the cashback market through strategic acquisitions, including iGraal, a leading French cashback company, in 2020 for €123.5 million, and Shoop, a prominent Berlin-based cashback platform, in 2021. Further solidifying its market position, GSG acquired the UK-based money-saving browser extension provider Pouch in 2019 and the US-based consumer brand and domain Coupons.com in 2023. A major strategic move occurred in 2022 when the company announced it would join forces with Pepper.com, creating a combined entity that brought together one of the world's largest shopping communities with Europe's leading shopping recommendation and rewards company. This merger integrated well-known platforms like hotukdeals (founded in 2004) under the GSG umbrella. On September 11, 2024, Global Savings Group announced its rebrand to Atolls. This change symbolized the company's transformation into a global shopping powerhouse, focused on creating digital destinations perfectly placed along a consumer's journey from discovery to purchase. The name 'Atolls' itself is metaphorical, representing essential stopovers for consumers in the retail ecosystem, much like atolls in the ocean serve as crucial stopovers for travelers. It also signifies the interconnectedness of its diverse platforms, all built on a singular, robust technological foundation. Today, Atolls operates a wide array of shopping destinations across more than 20 markets, employing over 1,000 people from diverse nationalities in 13 office locations worldwide, and partnering with over 12,000 brands and retailers. Their mission is to empower people to make smart spending decisions, guiding them through their shopping journey with savings, cashback, deals, product inspiration, and reviews.