Facebook acquires Israeli startup Onavo

(JNS.org) Facebook announced the acquisition of the Israeli mobile analytics startup, Onavo, as part of a larger plan to reduce the number of people without Internet access. Facebook will also turn Onavo’s Tel Aviv office into the company’s first Israeli headquarters.

Founded in 2010, Onavo focused on intelligence concerning mobile application data. According to the tech site AllThingsD, the services of Onavo are in line with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s Internet.org initiative, which aims to bring Internet connectivity to billions across the world.

“We’re excited to join their team, and hope to play a critical role in reaching one of Internet.org’s most significant goals— using data more efficiently, so that more people around the world can connect and share,” wrote co-founder and CEO of Onavo Guy Rosen on the company’s blog. 

And since the acquisition, one of Facebook’s top executives said that the social media giant, upon acquiring the Israeli technology startup Onavo, was “amazed” by the amount of talent it came across in Israel.

“Facebook was amazed by the amount of talent in such a small country like Israel,” Nicola Mendelsohn, a Facebook vice president who heads the company’s European, Middle East and Africa branch, told Israeli President Shimon Peres at a technology conference in Tel Aviv just days after its acquisition of Israeli startup Onavo, Globes reported.  

Facebook’s acquisition of Onavo will enable it to establish its first headquarters in Israel. 

“It was a momentous decision for Facebook to open its first R&D center outside the U.S. We chose Israel in the knowledge that the best talent is found here,” Mendelsohn added.