POTOMAC, MD — January 10, 2023 — CertifiKID announced today its acquisition of Hulafrog, a digital media company that helps parents find the best things to do in their local community and nationwide. Hulafrog joins CertifiKID’s existing portfolio of brands: CertifiKID, a nationally recognized website that offers discounts on kids’ activities and family experiences; and Macaroni KID, a digital media and advertising platform with hundreds of publishers who deliver hyperlocal content to their communities regarding kids’ activities and family-friendly events, destinations, products and services to parents from coast to coast.

 

The acquisition further solidifies CertifiKID’s position as one of the largest parent-focused digital media and advertising companies in the country, as well as the premier resource for parents nationwide to discover and save on everything families want and need.

 

“We are thrilled to welcome Hulafrog to the CertifiKID family and look forward to leveraging the tremendous capabilities each of our companies has built over the past decade to deliver an unparalleled menu of hyperlocal and national content and deals to our parent members and business partners across the country,” said Jamie Ratner, CertifiKID Founder and CEO. 

 

“We believe we have found the ideal home for Hulafrog with Jamie, Brian and the CertifiKID family. Parents love Hulafrog for its fun and informative email newsletters, comprehensive event calendars, family-friendly deals, and local directories of resources for kids and families. CertifiKID’s team, community, and subscribers share this passion. We are confident their leadership will result in further growth and even greater success for our loyal readers, editors, and advertisers, said Sherry Lombardi, Hulafrog co-founder and CEO.

 

Founded by Sherry Lombardi and Kerry Bowbliss in 2010, Hulafrog has long been a leading player in the local, parent-focused digital media and advertising space. In recent years, Hulafrog has focused on its new national editorial offerings, including Hulafrog Today, a must-read morning email geared towards busy millennial moms. The newsletter provides a go-to guide to the best activities, deals, news and ideas for the day ahead, in an easy to digest, “skimmable” format.

 

The addition of Hulafrog will significantly increase CertifiKID's reach across the country, grow its network of local Macaroni KID publishers, provide smart, new national content for its audience, greatly expand its social media footprint, and add a fresh, innovative advertising avenue for its brand partners wanting to reach the lucrative millennial parent market.

 

Ratner launched CertifiKID with her husband Brian in 2010 focusing on deals specifically geared to kids and families. CertifiKID took off immediately and has since grown into a $5M+ per year business. The business received a boost in 2019 when the founders appeared on ABC’s entrepreneurship reality show Shark Tank and secured an investment from Kevin O’Leary (aka “Mr. Wonderful”), one of his largest in 13 seasons on the show.

 

“The exposure CertifiKID received from Shark Tank and our partnership with Kevin O’Leary and his first-rate team have allowed us to grow exponentially and become a go-to resource for parents across the country,” said Ratner. “Our acquisition of Macaroni KID, and now Hulafrog, builds on this success by providing broader resources and more nationwide and hyperlocal capabilities. This is truly unparalleled in the parent-media space.”

 

CertifiKID will integrate the Hulafrog platform and focus on growing Hulafrog Today, which will contribute to providing a singular destination for the best in digital parenting lifestyle content and a comprehensive resource for helping parents provide the best experiences for their kids. Sherry Lombardi and Kerry Bowbliss will stay on in an advisory capacity in 2023.

 

About CertifiKID

Recognized as one of the best deal websites for parents, CertifiKID offers exclusive deals every day on family-friendly activities, events, entertainment, attractions, camps, and much MORE! In 2020, CertifiKID acquired Macaroni KID, a media brand that reaches active moms with pre-K and school-age kids through national and hyper-local e-newsletters and websites featuring family-friendly events, activities, products, and services. Each local edition of Macaroni Kid is published by a parent who lives and raises their family in their community. This local influence is what gives Macaroni KID its unique credibility and value to readers. Readers get the inside scoop on what to do with their kids in their town from the parent who always knows what's going on. For any parent interested in being a Macaroni KID publisher, please visit https://joinmacaronikid.com/.

 

The combination of CertifiKID, Macaroni KID, and now Hulafrog represents one of, if not, the largest parent-focused digital media and advertising companies in the country, reaching millions of families nationwide, inspiring entrepreneurship, and backed by an investment from Kevin O’Leary (aka “Mr. Wonderful”).

 

CertifiKID Founder & CEO Jamie Ratner was named one of the region’s “Brightest Young Business Leaders” by The Washington Business Journal and one of Greater Washington’s top women business leaders by SmartCEO. She recently co-authored a book with her husband and CertifiKID’s Co-founder and President, Brian Ratner, titled ParentPreneurs: A Decade Of Deals from a Messy Minivan, published in 2022 by Rowman & Littlefield.

 

About Hulafrog

Hulafrog is a digital media company that helps parents find the best things to do, watch, make, and buy in their local communities and nationwide. Hulafrog’s local websites and email newsletters are the go-to resources for events, activities, destinations, and deals for parents in those communities. Hulafrog Today is the must-read morning email for in-

the-know moms across the country. A skimmable, go-to guide to what’s happening and trending for the day ahead, Hulafrog Today helps families have their best day every day. To subscribe to Hulafrog Today, go to https://hulafrog.com/signup.

 

Contacts

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