Black Pixel, a Seattle-based creative agency that develops apps for ESPN, Twitter, Starbucks, and other top brands, has been acquired by Hypergiant, a Texas-based studio that helps large companies implement artificial intelligence and other new technologies.
Black Pixel and its 50 employees — including co-founder and CEO Daniel Pasco — have joined Hypergiant’s commercial division (Space Age Solutions) with Pasco as director of engineering. Hypergiant will keep an office in Seattle, while some employees will relocate to Texas. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Founded in 2008, Black Pixel has done mobile development and other software-related work for various brands. More than 100 million people use software it created for customers every day. Black Pixel also builds its own products, including Kaleidoscope, Versions, and Pixelboard. The company posted more than $15 million in revenue last year.
Hypergiant launched earlier this year. The company develops its own AI products but also serves enterprise customers who want to take advantage of new technologies such as human-robot interaction and computer vision. Hypergiant also runs its own investment arm, Hypergiant Ventures, that backs AI startups.
“Joining Hypergiant provides us with the scale, talent, and AI capabilities to grow our offerings to the next level–all while integrating our unique culture and unwavering commitment to well-engineered applications into Hypergiant Space Age Solutions,” Pasco said in a statement. “We’re excited to take on harder challenges with cutting-edge machine intelligence technology for leading brands across the globe.”
Hypergiant now has 120 employees after the deal.
“Black Pixel’s custom software expertise paired with Hypergiant’s intelligence platforms, customer base, and ability to execute will be impactful to the industry as whole,” Hypergiant CEO Ben Lamm said in a statement.
