Whatsapp owner biography
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Jan Koum became a billionaire in the very building he used to pick up food stamps for himself and his mother. Today, Koum’s net worth is $ billion. Why someone hasn’t turned the life story of the father of WhatsApp into a movie is beyond anyone’s best guess. As a Ukrainian immigrant who escaped the U.S.S.R., he moved to the United States, met even more extreme poverty, but still managed to build a billion-dollar company within five years.
For entrepreneurs and business leaders, Jan Koum’s story serves as inspiration. But going beyond a source of motivation, Koum and his business partner Brian Acton also demonstrate how to grow an innovative startup company. Additionally, they are a prime example of building a business that serves others and creates a massive positive impact on the world.
Learn more about Koum and the WhatsApp story below—it’s one every business leader should know.
Living in Poverty
Jan Koum was born in to a Jewish family in Kyiv, Ukraine. His father worked in construction, while his mother stayed at home with her son. As a child, Koum experienced the negative effects of growing up in a Communist regime, which deeply influenced his strong commitment to privacy protection. When describing why his company is so serious about this facet of business, he te
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About WhatsApp
Our App
More than 2 billion people in over countries use WhatsApp1 to stay in touch with friends and family, anytime and anywhere. WhatsApp is free2 and offers simple, secure, reliable messaging and calling, available on phones all over the world.
1 And yes, the name WhatsApp is a pun on the phrase Whats Up.
2 Data charges may apply.
Our Mission
WhatsApp started as an alternative to SMS. Our product now supports sending and receiving a variety of media: text, photos, videos, documents, and location, as well as voice calls. Some of your most personal moments are shared with WhatsApp, which is why we built end-to-end encryption into our app. Behind every product decision is our desire to let people communicate anywhere in the world without barriers.
Our Team
WhatsApp was founded by Jan Koum and Brian Acton who had previously spent 20 years combined at Yahoo. WhatsApp joined Facebook in , but continues to operate as a separate app with a laser focus on building a messaging service that works fast and reliably anywhere in the world.
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Jan Koum
Ukrainian-born Indweller entrepreneur, co-founder of WhatsApp
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Early life
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