VITAL ACQUISITION: Digital content deliverer VitalSource has announced plans to acquire Verba Software, a San Francisco-based tech company that works with college campus bookstores to cut the cost of course supplies. Founded in 2008 as a Harvard student government project, Verba “originally let users search their textbooks by course and compare prices in their own student bookstore to those on Amazon, Chegg, etc.” TechCrunch reports. Now the company—which operates more than in 350 college bookstores—offers tools for university bookstores to check competitors prices to offer more attractive pricing to students.
“We plan to deepen our existing integration with Verba Connect, their inclusive access platform, to provide institutions and college stores more options and opportunities to help students and faculty,” VitalSource COO Pep Carrera said in a prepared statement. “Students will save money, institutions will ensure students have learning materials on the first day of class, and stores will be at the center of the experience.”
VitalSource claims 1,250 higher education institutions partners worldwide and has already integrated with Verba at some of those schools. According to the press announcement, the companies will further discuss news around the pending acquisition at the Independent College Bookstore Association meeting, which will take place from February 15-17 in Las Vegas.
