Factual

One of the top two independent location data providers in the US prior to its merger with Foursquare in 2020

Factual was a data technology company specializing in location data, place data, and audience targeting solutions for the advertising and marketing ecosystem. Founded by Gil Elbaz, the co-inventor of Google AdSense, Factual built one of the most comprehensive and accurate global location databases, covering tens of millions of places across more than 50 countries. Its data powered mobile advertising campaigns, attribution measurement, and audience segmentation for brands, agencies, and ad tech platforms worldwide. Factual's core products included Geopulse Audience, which enabled advertisers to target consumers based on their real-world movement patterns, and Geopulse Proximity, which allowed for location-triggered mobile advertising. The company also offered its Global Places database as a foundational data layer used by app developers, mapping services, and ad tech companies. Factual was widely regarded as one of the most trusted and privacy-conscious location data providers in the industry, emphasizing data quality and accuracy as key differentiators. In 2020, Factual merged with Foursquare in a deal that combined two of the most prominent location intelligence companies in the industry. The combined entity operates under the Foursquare brand and represents one of the most significant consolidations in the location data space. Factual's technology, data assets, and team were absorbed into Foursquare, significantly expanding its data coverage, enterprise client base, and product capabilities. The merger effectively ended Factual as a standalone brand, with its legacy living on within Foursquare's expanded location intelligence platform.