Group-hug health site DailyStrength is being acquired by HSW International, which operates HowStuffWorks in China and Brazil (but is a separate company). Terms were not disclosed, but this has all the signs of a mercy acquisition.
DailyStrength has zero presence in China or Brazil. HSW International plans on keeping the site up, but it’s main interest seems to be in integrating DailyStrength’s social media technology platform on its international informational sites.
DailyStrength was only ever able to attract about 700,000 unique visitors a month to its 500 health communities and self-help forums covering everything from weight loss to coping with cancer. The company raised between $5 and $7 million from Redpoint Ventures. We reviewed it last year.
These are tough times!
Is it just me, or does TC seem to revel in reporting these types of stories?
There were a few social networks based around this premise of “safety net for people with ailments” … I guess the niche soc-net space will start to fall off the map.
Bad times bad days
Wow Erick. Nice job on missing the ball! I checked out your bio and miss the part where you can criticize companies for an exit in this down economy. Some vendetta?
Hi, this is Doug Hirsch, CEO of DailyStrength.
While I’m normally a fan of TechCrunch, I’m disappointed to see Erick take this view of our acquisition by HSWI. We’re quite excited about this merger, and I see it as an opportunity for us to do bigger and better things. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished in the last few years – it’s been an honor to be able be able to create a site that succeeds as both a for-profit business and also actually helps people in a real, tangible way.
(Also, some of his facts are simply incorrect.)
Anyway, thanks for paying attention to us, TechCrunch.
“Also, some of his facts are simply incorrect.”
If it’s true, then it doesn’t hurt to earn extra dough by suing him.
+1
Doug Hirsch is an online god. I wouldn’t just listen to what he says about online communities. I would take notes on what he says, laminate those notes, frame them, put them on the wall and then take my family holiday photo with those framed notes in the background.
Seriously: Congratulations Doug. You are a hero.
I guess he’ll be solving world hunger next. Only place to go after that description.
Doug is goldfinger. You can’t get anyone to buy a cup of coffee right now let alone a company. This is another great product in a career of great products. Bravo.
I am a fan of Doug’s as well. The guy is flat out smart and create’s quality products that garner serious interst from users. Tip of the cap.
Hmm seems like this a good thing.Thanks for letting us know.
Is there a compete.com for Chinese websites? Even popular chinese websites seem to rank low on compete for some reason
DOUG HIRSCH IS NOT AN ONLINE GOD!!!
THE SITE DAILYSTRENGTH IS A LOAD OF BULL SHYT.
DOUG HIRSCH IS NOT AN ONLINE GOD!!!
THE SITE DAILYSTRENGTH IS A LOAD OF BULL SHYT.
DOUG HIRSCH IS NOT AN ONLINE GOD!!!
THE SITE DAILYSTRENGTH IS A LOAD OF BULL SHYT.
DS IS BULLSHYT
Hello.
This is Georgie I used to work for DS and Doug is a scam artist he has stolen money from me and my family.
BEWARE! his whole plan on a f-ng merger is pathetic you know what it for? to make money and you all will have to pay money to be on the site heres what he told me.
“The amount for the premium DS accounts will be $25.00 but this will include html on your page,music like myspace and facebook,A blocker where you will be able to block people,There will also be a $25.00 fee to be a CL.
-Doug”
He sent that to my email.
What a scam artist.
+1 Noah and +1 David.
It’s amazing that any company can have a successful exit in these times and that DS is profitable, even better!
Erick, it shocks me that you diss the traffic and then show a graph of them leading the space. 700UUs and 20mm pageviews is impressive for a focused site in just a couple of years.
Congrats DS guys/gals.
There are other sites trying to do similar things with less overhead and clear goals like doctor search engine and review site http://www.mydochub.com
I was a member of DS on the depression board as I suffer from severe depression. I was banned after over a year of membership for no apparent reason and was never given any kind of explanation.
Luckily I’m reasonably well adjusted and have alternative means of support. However, if I hadn’t had that extra support and been unjustly banned with no reason or warning, I may have taken it very badly like other members have.
Doug does not seem to care about his responsibility to his members, nor does he care that banned members have been made more depressed by his websites actions.
I would seriously reconsider this take over until Doug conducts himself in a more appropriate manner.
Im part of ds and i have been for a while and i love it and even if they did charge i would pay it bc it really does help and i know many other people would pay as well it pisses me off bc u people do not know anything about ds but seem to make comments like u do
I am a memeber of DS, well at least I am for now. I have been getting banned left and right, I have messsaged DS managment, over and over, and have yet to here a response. I have a new profile that has been up for a dew days, so who knows if they have come to their senses or something. I suffer from Bipolar, and severe depression, and DS really is my own means of support, if there is going to be a 25$ membership fee, that I will be saying goodbye to DS for good, I can’t afford that, I can barley afford to pay my meds. I hope this is not true.
As for the people who are saying nasty ass shit about DS, you don’t like it, stay the fuck away from it. It is a free site, you don’t like it, don’t be a member, simple, easy, done.
YOU PATHETIC PEOPLE AT DS BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU READ. MEMBER SHIP FEES ARE A HOAX.
LMAO FUCK YOU PEOPLE. LMAO
YOU IDIOTS WAKE UP. i WROTE ABOUT THE MEMBERSHIP FEES. A FUCKING JOKE OK?
STUPID FUCKS AT DS
ANYONE CAN WRITE ON HERE USING A FAKE EMAIL.
I dont have to tell anyone why they are banned,If you dont like my site get the fuck off it,And yes the membership fee is correct,Georgie will be a part of this,All members will be wiped away for a fresh new start and anybody can join doesnt matter your age. The site is a big change we will be starting from scratch and when you join it will be more secure as of now anybody can look into your locked journals and locked pictures.
Sorry for this but it has to be done.
I doubt that the comment above this one was really left by Doug. Anyone can register on here and leave a comment using any name they wish. All the merge means is Daily Strength will grow and offer a means for good people to get support.
Fees… I wouldn’t believe what rumors people throw out.
Congrats on the sale.
Dear,Concerned member
That post was made by me. Contact me on Dailystrength then if you dont believe.
Ya, and I have blonde hair, I have talked to Doug today, concering my account, and brought this up, it is just a hoax, Some poeple need a reality check, and have faith in the site, would ya?
That reply above does not have Dougs voice
I have been on ds for quite a while tthis news concerns, me guess no need to as for gov. bailout
Talk about a waste of space. I just wasted a few minutes of my life reading this childish crap. My good lord guys get a life. What is wrong with you? ” I got banned for no reason at all”. Yeah, that happens everyday, no reason at all. With from what I just read here I can see why you would have been banned, and I’m not even a rocket scientist. Go figure. There is nothing wrong with that site, what is wrong is you guys. Go start your own and you can slam each other all you wish. The guy builds a site that is actually worth something and then sells it and he is a thief. Duh. In today’s world I’d sell the damn thing to. Don’t be a dumbass. As far as i am concerned the web would be a better place if this page got nuked.
This is just another example of a few people with noting to add, wanting to make themselves “feel” important not only by stupid flaming but repeating it over and over. I have a good deal of respect for Doug or anyone who will put their butt and money on the line to try to do something and be a success. More power to those! I have seen the positive from DS. The rest of you if you have nothing to offer then drop it! I wanted to respond to this. I most of the time do not. I look at it like this, do not get into a “puking contest with a buzzard”!
I enjoy dailystrength. I am a university B.Comm student in Toronto Canada researching DS for an Intro. to Entrep. course, Doug is a Smart man. I do not understand why people seem to bash him, especially those who do not know him.
The reasons behind comment boards are to leave a sentance or two about the article, not to swear and leave rude remarks. Even worse false statements on behalf of other people.
I do not like the way the article was written, i feel that they put a spin on the article in a manner which had some serious bias. DS will thrive at HSWI because it will have much larger amounts of resouces to draw from.
Stop Hating on DS
hey guys – it’s been a while, but i just checked back in here as a friend told me there’s been some odd comments. suffice to say that the person claiming to be me above is NOT, and i’m happy to continue the conversation about DailyStrength – feel free to find me on facebook or elsewhere. thanks.