Poppulo

The story of Poppulo, which derives its name from the Latin word for 'people,' began in 1996, originally as Newsweaver, founded in Bandon, Co. Cork, Ireland, by Andrew O'Shaughnessy. [2, 7, 19] Initially, the company focused on email marketing solutions. However, recognizing a critical need within large corporations for more effective internal communications, the company pivoted its strategy around seven years prior to 2020 to specialize in this burgeoning space. This decision proved to be a turning point, setting Poppulo on a path of significant growth and establishing it as a key player in helping organizations connect with their employees. The software, developed exclusively in Cork, quickly found its place in nearly 900 companies across over 100 countries. By 2017, the company rebranded from Newsweaver to Poppulo, a name chosen to reflect its core belief that an engaged workforce aligned behind a common purpose can transform an organization's performance. [19, 37] This rebranding coincided with the launch of a new software platform designed to revolutionize the employee communications industry. [19, 37]

The journey continued with significant milestones, including securing $35 million in funding in January 2019, led by Susquehanna Growth Equity, to accelerate research and development and expand sales and marketing efforts. [5, 7, 33] A transformative chapter unfolded in March 2021 when Poppulo merged with Four Winds Interactive (FWI), a Denver-based leader in digital signage and workplace experience software, backed by Vista Equity Partners. [6, 9, 17, 27] This merger, which also brought in workplace management innovator SmartSpace, aimed to create a comprehensive omnichannel employee communications platform. The combined entity, operating under the Poppulo name, was reportedly valued at around $1 billion. [17, 23] The integration of these companies led to the launch of the Poppulo Harmony platform in November 2022, unifying their technologies to offer solutions for employee communications, customer communications, and workplace experiences. Under the leadership of CEO Ruth Fornell, who joined in December 2023, Poppulo has continued to evolve. [13, 14] In early 2025, Poppulo further solidified its market position by acquiring REACH Media Network, a digital signage provider focused on mid-market customers, expanding its reach to over 10,000 digital signage customers worldwide. [1, 5, 20] Today, Poppulo, with headquarters in Denver, Colorado, and significant operations in Cork, Ireland, serves over 4,500 customers, including more than 40 of the Fortune 100 companies, helping them to connect people, systems, and ways of working to foster deeper relationships and drive business success. [1, 3, 12, 20]