Evoke Software

About Evoke Software

Evoke Software, operating under the domain evokesoft.com, was a specialized provider of data discovery, profiling, and quality management software. The company was originally founded in 1993 and was previously known as DBStar Software. A significant turning point in the company's history occurred on July 19, 2005, when it was acquired by the Irish data quality technology firm, Similarity Systems. This acquisition was a strategic move to combine Evoke's data profiling capabilities with Similarity's data quality products, aiming to create a comprehensive, end-to-end data quality solution for the market. Subsequently, Similarity Systems, including the integrated Evoke technology, was acquired by Informatica in early 2006.

The core of Evoke Software's business was its Axio product suite. This software was designed to automate the profiling and analysis of corporate information assets. The primary function of Axio was to support and streamline critical data-intensive projects for its clients, which included data warehousing, business intelligence initiatives, data migrations and conversions, and customer relationship management (CRM) systems. By providing tools for in-depth data analysis and discovery, Evoke Software's technology helped organizations understand the quality and structure of their data, which is a crucial first step before it can be effectively used in various enterprise applications. The company operated in the Automation/Workflow Software industry and was backed by venture capital firms, including Axiom Venture Partners, Band of Angels, Chase Capital Partners, GE Capital, and RRE Ventures.

The business model centered on licensing its proprietary software to businesses and government organizations that were undertaking large-scale data projects. The benefit for clients was the ability to mitigate risks associated with poor data quality, such as failed IT projects, inaccurate business intelligence, and breakdowns in customer relationship management. Prior to the acquisition by Similarity Systems, the two companies had already established a partnership, indicating a synergistic relationship and a shared vision for integrated data quality solutions. The combination of Evoke's Axio for data profiling and Similarity's Athanor for data cleansing provided a more complete platform for both IT professionals and business users to manage data quality initiatives from start to finish.