Facebook Acquires Onavo - Israeli Mobile Data Analytics Startup; Deal Valued Over $100 Million

Facebook has established its first office in Israel, an office anchored so far by a data analytics company recently bought by the world's largest social networking site. Facebook today confirmed that in an attempt to make internet access more convenient, it has acquired Tel Aviv-based Israely startup Onavo, deals of which still haven't been disclosed- but the expected figures should range anywhere from $100 to $200 million. Around 30 Onavo employees shall be sweating it out for Facebook and will work in the company's new Israely office (which as of now remains Onavo's still).


Founded in 2010, Onavo develops iOS and Android apps that compress data as and when downloaded, thus optimizing the device and app performance and bettering battery life. The startup even offers an analytics tool that lets Android and iOS users track the data consumed by individual applications installed in their phones, though this service is now offered by all the latest OS versions.

This acquisition follows a logic. Facebook has been planning to grow its mobile business for a while now, and that would mean making the platform much more usable on mobile devices. Now with Onavo's technology, which simply targets smartphones, Facebook can now optimize their content on mobiles. Company’s co-founders, Guy Rosen (CEO) and Roi Tiger (CTO) cite Facebook's Internet.org initiative to make internet access easier- "Today, we’re eager to take the next step and make an even bigger impact by supporting Facebook’s mission to connect the world." Below mentioned is their #-Link-Snipped-# on this acquisition:

We are excited to announce that Facebook has agreed to acquire our company.

Three years ago, we started Onavo with the goal of helping today’s technology consumers and companies work more efficiently in a mobile world. We developed the award-winning Onavo mobile utility apps, and later launched Onavo Insights, the first mobile market intelligence service based on real engagement data. Our service helps people save money through more efficient use of data, and also helps developers, large and small, design better experiences for people.

We’ve built world-class products and a remarkably talented team which has pioneered important breakthroughs in data compression technology and mobile analytics. Today, we’re eager to take the next step and make an even bigger impact by supporting Facebook’s mission to connect the world.

As you know, Facebook and other mobile technology leaders recently launched Internet.org, formalizing Facebook’s commitment to improving access to the internet for the next 5 billion people — this is a challenge we’re also passionate about.

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. When the transaction closes, we plan to continue running the Onavo mobile utility apps as a standalone brand. As always, we remain committed to the privacy of people who use our application and that commitment will not change.

We are incredibly proud of the talented team we have assembled, and, recognizing this, Onavo’s Tel-Aviv office will remain open for business and will become Facebook’s new Israeli office.

We’ll continue to advance the work we are doing in collaboration with Facebook’s great team. Thank you to everyone who has joined us on this journey. We’d like to extend a special thanks to our investors, who believed in us and in our vision from the early days. We’re excited for what’s next.

Guy Rosen, Co-Founder & CEO
Roi Tiger, Co-Founder & CTO