Lyft acqui-hires DataScore and YesGraph to boost growth

Ride hailing company Lyft announced that it has acqui-hired DataScore and YesGraph to 'help propel growth, attract more passengers and drivers, and help drivers earn more.' About 25 people from both the companies will join Lyft. As part of the deal, Lyft will also acquire YesGraph's referral program team.

YesGraph’s expertise is in building referral programs that reward customers for bringing in new ones, which should help Lyft in improving its own Driver Referral Program. DataScore’s team, on the other hand, will be focused on scaling both driver and passenger sides of the equation, using their expertise in “customer acquisition, conversion and retention programs,” according to Lyft.

Lyft currently is seeing uncharacteristically high gains thanks in part to the difficulties faced by rival Uber. The cab-aggregator has also expanded to over 160 new cities during the past year alone and already has seen more rides in 2017 than it provided during the entirety of 2016.

Lyft's new acquisitions are expected to boost this pace of expansion, with a focus specifically on attracting more riders and drivers to the platform. The company did not disclose financial terms of either of new acquisitions.