Conduit
Conduit is a software company known first for its widely distributed browser-toolbar platform and later for mobile application development tools.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Conduit is an international software company founded in 2005 by Shilo, Dror Erez, and Gaby Bilcyzk. Its first major business was a platform that enabled publishers, websites, and software distributors to create and distribute branded browser toolbars. The model generated revenue through search, advertising, and related browser services, allowing free software and online communities to monetize large user audiences. Between 2005 and 2013, the Conduit toolbar was the company's most recognizable product. The platform became particularly prominent among companies associated with the software-download ecosystem sometimes described as Download Valley. Although toolbars could be distributed as part of legitimate software or publisher partnerships, Conduit's products were also frequently bundled with downloads from third-party publishers. Security vendors and computer users criticized the software because some installations could alter browser settings, change default search or home-page preferences, and make removal difficult. As a result, antivirus and anti-malware products commonly classified versions of the toolbar as adware or a potentially unwanted program. These controversies became central to the public perception of the Conduit brand. The company expanded substantially during the toolbar period and had more than 400 employees by 2013. In September 2013, Conduit separated its website-toolbar business in a transaction that combined the division with Perion Network. Under the arrangement, Conduit shareholders received a substantial ownership position in Perion, while the two companies continued as independent corporate entities. The transaction transferred the toolbar operation away from Conduit's remaining business and represented a major strategic change for the company. After the separation, Conduit focused on mobile software and application development. Its mobile platform allowed users and organizations to create native and web-based applications for smartphones, with distribution through an application gallery and, subject to a paid subscription, through stores such as Apple's App Store and Google Play. The company positioned this offering as a lower-barrier alternative to building mobile applications entirely through conventional software development teams. In 2015, Conduit announced an agreement to acquire Keeprz, a mobile customer-loyalty platform, for $45 million, reflecting an effort to broaden its mobile business beyond basic app creation. Conduit's history therefore spans two distinct phases: a high-volume browser monetization business that generated significant scale but attracted sustained criticism, and a mobile application platform intended to serve businesses and other organizations. Publicly available reference material does not establish a detailed current management roster, ownership structure, headquarters location beyond the United States, or a complete account of the company's present operations.
History
Conduit was established in 2005 by Shilo, Dror Erez, and Gaby Bilcyzk as a software company focused on tools for online publishers and software distributors. Its initial growth came from a toolbar platform. The platform allowed third parties to create branded browser toolbars and use them to maintain contact with users while generating income through search and advertising arrangements. The toolbar business grew rapidly during the expansion of free software downloads and publisher-led browser monetization. Conduit became associated with the Download Valley ecosystem, a group of companies that monetized free applications through bundled offers and advertising-supported installations. The business could provide distribution and revenue for publishers, but it also exposed users to software changes they might not fully understand. Some Conduit-related toolbars altered browser defaults, redirected searches, or made themselves difficult to remove. Security vendors consequently identified versions of the software as adware or potentially unwanted programs, while critics described the installation and uninstall experience as intrusive. By 2013, Conduit had more than 400 employees and had built a large user base. The same year marked a structural break in its history. In September, the company spun off its complete website-toolbar division, which was combined with Perion Network. The transaction left Conduit and Perion as independent companies, while Conduit shareholders received 81 percent of Perion's existing shares according to the referenced account. The scale of the transferred user base helped Perion become a major search participant in the United States immediately after the transaction. Following the toolbar separation, Conduit concentrated on mobile application software. Its principal mobile platform allowed customers to create native and web applications for smartphones without building every component from scratch. Applications could be presented in Conduit's App Gallery at no charge, while publishing to major commercial app stores required a recurring subscription. This represented a shift from browser-based monetization toward software-as-a-service tools for mobile presence, customer engagement, and application distribution. In 2015, Conduit announced a planned $45 million acquisition of Keeprz, a platform for mobile customer loyalty. The deal illustrated the company's attempt to extend its mobile offering into retention and loyalty functions rather than limiting its business to app construction. The available reference material does not provide a definitive account of the acquisition's completion, later ownership, current leadership, or subsequent corporate developments. Conduit's documented history is consequently best understood as a transition from a controversial, high-scale toolbar operation to a mobile application platform business.
- 2015
Keeprz acquisition is announced
[1]Conduit announces a planned $45 million purchase of mobile customer-loyalty platform Keeprz.
- 2013
Toolbar division is spun off
[1]Conduit separates its website-toolbar operation and combines it with Perion Network in a transaction that gives Conduit shareholders a substantial stake in Perion.
- 2005
Conduit is founded
[1]Shilo, Dror Erez, and Gaby Bilcyzk establish Conduit as a software company.
- 2005
Toolbar platform becomes the core business
[1]Conduit develops a branded browser-toolbar platform for publishers and software distributors, supported by search and advertising monetization.
Products and positioning
A software platform provider that moved from browser-toolbar monetization into accessible mobile application creation and publishing.
Browser toolbar and publisher monetization · 2005
Conduit Toolbar
Conduit Toolbar was the company's best-known product from 2005 through 2013. It enabled publishers and software distributors to offer branded browser toolbars containing search, links, and other browser features. The model created distribution and monetization opportunities, but installations distributed through third parties were criticized for changing browser settings and being difficult to remove. Security software commonly classified versions as adware or potentially unwanted software.
Mobile software development platform
Conduit mobile application development platform
Conduit's later principal product provided tools for creating native and web-based mobile applications for smartphones. The platform was designed to make application creation accessible to users that did not want to develop an entire mobile product from the ground up. Customers could place applications in an App Gallery without charge, while distribution through the Apple App Store or Google Play required a monthly subscription.
Mobile application distribution
Conduit App Gallery
The App Gallery was the distribution component of Conduit's mobile platform. It gave customers a destination for presenting applications created with Conduit tools. The referenced material states that gallery publication was free, whereas publishing to major third-party app stores was tied to a monthly subscription.
Mobile customer-loyalty platform
Keeprz
Keeprz was a mobile customer-loyalty platform that Conduit announced it would purchase in 2015. The proposed acquisition would have expanded Conduit's mobile portfolio into loyalty and customer-retention functionality. The available material does not confirm whether the transaction was completed or how the product was subsequently integrated.
Controversies
2013
Controversy over Conduit toolbars
Conduit toolbars were criticized by security researchers, antivirus products, and users because bundled installations could modify browser settings and could be hard to uninstall. The software was widely categorized in the security industry as adware or a potentially unwanted program, damaging the reputation of Conduit's original business model.
Brand decisions
2015
Announce planned acquisition of KeeprzM&ABackground
Conduit was expanding its mobile business and sought capabilities beyond basic application creation and distribution.
Action taken
The company announced plans to purchase Keeprz, a mobile customer-loyalty platform, for $45 million.
Aftermath
The available reference does not establish whether the acquisition closed or describe its longer-term effect on Conduit's product portfolio.
Announced acquisition price. $45 million (2015 announcement)
2013
Separate the website-toolbar businessStrategyBackground
The toolbar operation had become Conduit's most recognizable business but was also associated with persistent criticism over bundled distribution, browser changes, and uninstall practices.
Action taken
Conduit spun off its entire website-toolbar division and combined it with Perion Network, while the two companies continued as independent entities.
Aftermath
The separation shifted Conduit's focus toward mobile application software. Conduit shareholders retained a substantial stake in Perion, and the transferred user base strengthened Perion's search position in the United States.
Recent events
PlatformQ Education announces Conduit webcasting enhancements[3]
Reported:
PlatformQ Education announced enhancements to its Conduit webcasting platform, including self-service scheduling and webcast launching, improved screen sharing, a refreshed presenter interface, automatic live captions, and live-chat integration. The features were planned for beta release to current clients starting in January.
Conduit launches its investor matchmaking service[4]
Reported:
Conduit officially launched its platform to the public, offering a matchmaking service for founders and investors.
Sources4 sources
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