Socrata is a Seattle-based cloud software company, focused exclusively on democratizing access to government data. We help public sector organizations improve transparency, citizen service and fact-based decision-making by efficiently delivering data to citizens, employees and developers in a user-friendly experience on web, mobile and machine-to-machine interfaces.
Innovators like the World Bank, Medicare, Data.gov, EnergyStar, New York City, Chicago, San Francisco, Oregon and Maryland, have all chosen Socrata for its turnkey and low-cost cloud delivery of easy-to-use open data products.
Socratas toolkit goes well beyond creating data catalogues. The companys products are designed to support a lively ecosystem around open data.
For example, every data set on Socrata is API-enabled with accompanying documentation, allowing developers and entrepreneurs to query data sets easily to create apps. Meanwhile, citizens, researchers, and journalists can search for the information they want without filling out a F.O.I.A. request or digging through papers. They can easily create digital visualizations, such as map mashups, charts, and graphs, with data. These same citizens then embed their creations on another website, where the data included will refresh automatically. And, they can give feedback to the agency hosting the data about their experience, creating a full feedback loop between citizens and government.
In addition, Socrata GovStat combines openly accessible government data and a drag-and-drop report-creation tool, Socrata DataSlate, to offer an efficient way for government agencies to track their progress against goals and engage with the public about the results. Designed by former Director of Maryland StateStat, Beth Blauer, GovStat is transforming the cost and effectiveness of government performance management.
Kevin Merrit is the founder and CEO of Socrata, a Seattle-based cloud software company.
Kevin founded Socrata because he recognized that the massive amounts of data in the world could be put to use in peoples everyday lives to make them better.
In 2002 Kevin founded MessageRite, which developed and provided a web-based email archiving service. In 2004, FrontBridge Technologies acquired MessageRite where Kevin functioned as Chief Technology Officer (CTO). In 2005, Microsoft acquired FrontBridge. At Microsoft Kevin served as Software Architect and Director of Operations before leaving to found Socrata in 2007.
At heart, Kevin is a software entrepreneur with a passion for making customers elated by delivering great software as a service.
Will Pugh is the CTO at Socrata, a cloud software company based in Seattle.
Will is a seasoned, savvy techie who fears no challenge, and he brings a proven track record to Socrata of leading and developing innovative high-tech solutions.
Will began his career with Microsoft as a Software Design Engineer before founding SourceLabs, a provider of tools and services used to support open source software environments. In the past, he has led teams for VMWare, EMC, and BEA Systems.
Will graduated from Cornell University with a degree in Computer Science.