MIVA

Miva, Inc. operates as a provider of enterprise-level e-commerce solutions, with a history dating back to 1996 when it was founded as HTMLScript Corporation. The company's origins trace to 1993 with the development of HTMLScript, a language created by Joe Austin and others. In 1997, the company launched its first e-commerce product, KoolKat, and rebranded as Miva, Inc. The proprietary scripting language, MivaScript, became the foundation of its software. Over the years, the company has undergone several name changes and ownership structures, including being purchased by FindWhat.com in 2003 and later being acquired by a group of investors and original employees in 2007. Current CEO Rick Wilson has been with the company in various capacities since 1999 and was part of the team that acquired Miva in 2007, subsequently orchestrating its transition to a SaaS model.

The firm offers a cloud-based e-commerce platform designed for mid-size and enterprise merchants, supporting B2B, DTC, and wholesale business models. It focuses on businesses with complex needs, such as large product catalogs or specialized industry requirements, that other platforms may struggle to handle. The business generates revenue through a revenue-based pricing model, where fees are tied to the client's success, targeting merchants with annual online revenues of $1 million or more. Miva provides both the e-commerce software and the cloud-based hosting environment, offering an all-in-one solution.

Miva's platform is designed to unify B2C and B2B sales on a single, comprehensive system, eliminating the need for separate platforms. Key features include extensive native functionality, tools for managing complex product catalogs, and advanced B2B capabilities such as customer-specific pricing, tiered discounts, and quote management. The platform also provides a JSON API for seamless integration with back-office systems like ERP, CRM, and OMS, enabling automation of various business processes. For merchants, the software offers a customizable storefront, SEO tools, inventory management, and marketing features without requiring coding expertise. The company has received minority investments from Bison Capital Partners in 2017 and a more recent strategic growth investment from Equality Asset Management in 2021 to fund expansion.

Keywords: enterprise ecommerce, B2B ecommerce platform, DTC ecommerce, wholesale ecommerce, SaaS ecommerce, cloud-based ecommerce, shopping cart software, customizable storefront, complex catalogs, back-office integration, JSON API, MivaScript, high-growth ecommerce, online retail solutions, inventory management, order management, SEO tools, multi-channel selling, payment gateway integration, subscription billing, quote management