January 2008 - California, United States. Jan Koum, an engineer at Yahoo, applies for work at Facebook - rejected. It was not the end - he moved on with his life. He buys an iPhone next year and immediately recognizes the huge potential of the new App Store. So he decided to build an instant messenger with some of his former coworkers from Yahoo. And named it WhatsApp. The vision behind WhatsApp was to replace the expensive SMS. With 1 million people signing up each day, the growth rate of WhatsApp was mind-boggling. WhatsApp was able to support 50 billion messages a day from 450 million daily active users. And they did it with only 32 engineers. WhatsApp is one of the most successful instant messengers in the market. In 2014, the same Facebook that rejected Jan Koum acquired WhatsApp for a whopping 19 billion USD. According to Forbes, Jan Koum has a net worth of 14 billion USD in 2023. Rejection can be redirection. Jan Koum's journey from rejection to revolutionizing communication with WhatsApp teaches us that setbacks are often stepping stones to success. Keep moving forward, for opportunities await those who persevere.
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HTSI - (E&I) Global VE Hub | Gold Medalist - University of Pune | Civil Engineering | Steel Structures| Problem Solving
𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐫𝐞𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧s 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧! Sharing from my personal archives. A few years ago, I had the opportunity of reaching out to Brian Acton and Jan Koum, the visionary founders of WhatsApp to obtain their autograph. Today, WhatsApp stands as the largest messaging app in the world, boasting 2.78 billion active users which is more than 50% of Internet users itself. Interestingly the idea was born from Jan Koum’s frustration with missing calls at the gym and the potential he saw in the burgeoning App Store after purchasing an iPhone. They aimed to create a simple, ad-free messaging service that made communication easy and affordable, especially for international users burdened by costly SMS charges. A pivotal moment in their story was their job rejection by Facebook and Twitter in 2009, which only fueled their determination to succeed. This drive led to WhatsApp’s massive success and its eventual acquisition by Facebook for $19 billion in 2014. Today WhatsApp is one of the best acquisitions Facebook ever made. Sometimes, what feels like a door closing is actually a push to create something the world didn’t even know it needed. Their story is a powerful reminder that initial setbacks can pave the way for extraordinary opportunities. #Whatsapp
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MOTIVATIONAL MONDAY Jan Koum The Success Story of the Co-founder of WhatsApp The evolution of communication is something to ponder, and it is not just about texting or chatting. With the help of smartphones today, we are connected to our near and dear ones around the clock. Jan Koum (born on February 24, 1976) is a Ukrainian-American billionaire businessman and computer programmer. He is the co-founder and former CEO of WhatsApp, a mobile messaging app which was acquired by Facebook in 2014 for US$19.3 billion. According to Forbes, he has an estimated net worth of US$15.2 billion as of October 2023, making him one of the richest people in the world. Koum was ranked 44th on the Forbes' list of richest Americans in 2023 with a net worth of $15.1 billion. He is the co-founder and former CEO of WhatsApp, a mobile messaging app which was acquired by Facebook in 2014 for US$19.3 billion. According to Forbes, he has an estimated net worth of US$15.2 billion as of October 2023, making him one of the richest people in the world. Jan Koum cofounded WhatsApp, now the world's biggest mobile messaging service, in 2009. Facebook bought the startup for $22 billion in cash and stock in 2014. He resigned as CEO of WhatsApp in April 2018 and announced he would leave Facebook's board as well.the onset of WhatsApp After getting rejected by Facebook, the duo decided to start their own company. 2009 was the era of new technologies and innovation. This struck Jan Koum's mind and gave him the idea to create an application. Seeing different apps like Skype, Shazam, and many more, Jan Koum wanted to create a platform that could improve communication among friends and families through phone calls and texting. #𝒒𝒖𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒖𝒎𝒕𝒆𝒄𝒉𝒑𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒈𝒂𝒅𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒔𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 #𝒊𝑷𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒆 #𝑺𝒂𝒎𝒔𝒖𝒏𝒈 #𝒍𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒐𝒑 #𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒖𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒂𝒈𝒆𝒊𝒌𝒆𝒋𝒂𝒍𝒂𝒈𝒐𝒔
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They turned $30,000 into $19,000,000,000. This is the journey of Jan Koum and the creation of WhatsApp. Jan Koum had a problem. He lived in Ukraine and had no secure way to communicate with his family. Inspired by this problem he set out on a mission to disrupt a billion-dollar telecom industry. In 2009, he took the leap and co-founded WhatsApp. You have heard timing is everything? Well this was the case for Jan as he started this company 18 months after the first iPhone was released. The business model was simple. Free secure messaging and calls over the internet bypassing traditional SMS fees and methods. This cut costs for the customer and improved reliability. Believe it or not simple works. In 5 short years, WhatsApp attracted millions of users. This led to a 19,000,000,000 exit to Facebook. So remember, when starting a business keep it simple and solve a problem.
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Enterprise Sales ★ Alliances and Partnerships ★ Strategy and Consultation ★ B2B ★ IT Services ★ Customer Experience ★ AI ★ SaaS
WhatsApp: From Zeroes to Zillions! Let's dive into the enchanted realm of WhatsApp, where timelines twist, and revenues sing a merry tune! 🕰️ A Tale as Old as the Nokia Brick: Picture it, folks! 2009, the era of Nokia bricks and Motorola Razrs. WhatsApp bursts onto the scene, making SMS look like a distant memory. From "Hey, what's up?" to blue ticks, the world was never the same! 💡 The Lightbulb Moment: Fun fact alert! Did you know WhatsApp started as a status updater? Yep, it was basically the OG Snapchat story, minus the dog filters. But hey, innovation is a wild ride! 💰 Cha-Ching! Show Me the Money: Fast forward to 2014 when Facebook swoops in like a knight in shining armor and drops a cool $19 billion for WhatsApp. Billion with a "B"! That's more zeros than I can count on one hand! 🚀 Warp Speed to the Present: Zooming into 2024, WhatsApp's journey continues to dazzle. With over 2 billion users worldwide, it's like the entire planet's caught in a WhatsApp fever dream! From humble beginnings to billionaire status, WhatsApp's journey is a rollercoaster ride of epic proportions. Who knows that WhatsApp will be the most adopted tech product wordwide.
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📱🌟 **Unveiling WhatsApp's Evolution: The Impact of Facebook's Influence** Let's explore how WhatsApp has transformed since joining forces with Facebook in 2014: 1️⃣ **Privacy First**: Enjoy peace of mind with end-to-end encryption, keeping your chats confidential and secure. 2️⃣ **Seamless Connection**: Easily bridge your WhatsApp and Facebook worlds, opening up exciting new ways to connect and interact. 3️⃣ **Vibrant Status Stories**: Dive into the world of "Status," where each moment shines as a colorful tale waiting to be shared. 4️⃣ **Innovative Business Tools**: Experience the evolution of customer engagement with specialized business accounts, simplifying communication strategies. 5️⃣ **Enhanced Connectivity**: Stay in touch effortlessly with group chats and video calls, strengthening bonds with your network. 6️⃣ **Convenient Payments**: Simplify transactions with in-app payments, making it easy to settle bills or split costs right within your chats. Join me in exploring these exciting changes and sparking discussions on privacy, innovation, connectivity, and the convenience of integrated payments! I'm eager to hear your thoughts on WhatsApp's journey! #WhatsAppEvolution #FacebookImpact #InnovationInAction #StayConnected #JoinTheConversation 🚀
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WhatsApp is a well-known messaging app that lets users make phone and video chats in addition to sending text, voice, picture, and document #communications. Both Brian Acton and Jan Koum, who had previously worked for Yahoo, created it in 2009. Although the software was first created to be used with iPhones, it soon became well-known and was released for Android and other #smartphone platforms. By 2024, WhatsApp had over 3 billion monthly active users, making it one of the most popular messaging applications worldwide. It is particularly well-liked in nations like Mexico, Brazil, and India, where people #frequently utilize it as their main form of communication. WhatsApp's end-to-end encryption, which makes sure that only the sender and receiver can access the #messages, is one of its primary features. Because of this, WhatsApp has become a well-liked option for those looking for safe communication. WhatsApp users may form groups where they can speak with numerous people at once and share their location with friends and family in addition to its messaging #functions. Users may share updates, pictures, and videos with their connections using its status function. In, 2014 Facebook's parent company, Meta, buy WhatsApp. Since then, the software has developed further, with frequent upgrades and the addition of additional features. #Users of the well-known messaging app WhatsApp may now search their messages by date thanks to a new feature that Meta has added. This implies that communications from a certain day are now simple to locate. This tool might come in very handy when you need to review or confirm anything. You may search for #media, links, and documents exchanged on a certain date in addition to text messages. Relatedly, WhatsApp just unveiled more #text layout choices. It contains a block quote, numbered list, and bulleted list. It may be used to quote individuals. When it comes to a shopping list or a list of tips, a numbered list and a list with bullets are useful. Additionally, a block #quotation can be used to quote an individual. Users can share computer command lines with coworkers by using inline code. www.tycoonstory.com #WhatsApp #NewFeatures #MessagingApp #EndtoEndEncryption #GroupChat #SearchByDate #TextFormatting #StatusUpdates #Meta Meta Meta for Business Meta Foresight WhatsApp WhatsApp Business Sriandal V Rohan Kumar Singh Nitish Kumar Raghavendra Gorantla
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Empowering business growth through strategic & seamless designs | Product Designer | UI/UX Designer | Website Designer
Redesign of Whatsapp "updates tab" Since WhatsApp has released its new update, I've seen people sharing their experiences. So I thought why not give it a try to redesign it? Swipe right to the transformation. Have something in mind? Share in the comments. ♻️ Repost this if you love the transformation. .............. Want to transform clicks into conversions and retentions? DM me "Design"
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#innovationstories From "What's Up?" to a Global Phenomenon: The Birth of WhatsApp! Many of us use WhatsApp daily, connecting seamlessly with friends and family across the globe. In 2009, Brian Acton and Jan K., former colleagues at Yahoo, were inspired by the potential of the newly launched App Store. This initial concept, aptly named "WhatsApp" to mimic the question "What's up?" soon evolved into a robust messaging platform. They envisioned an app that displayed user statuses, similar to "away" messages on computers. However, their initial attempts were plagued by technical difficulties, leading Koum to consider giving up. It was Acton's unwavering belief that kept them going. He urged Koum to persevere, and their persistence paid off. They launched WhatsApp on February 24, 2009, initially focusing on iPhone users. The app quickly gained traction, thanks to its user-friendly interface, focus on privacy, and low annual subscription fee ($0.99 after the first year). WhatsApp stopped charging subscription fees in 2016. WhatsApp's success can be attributed to several factors: * Addressing a need: It offered a cost-effective and convenient alternative to expensive SMS charges, especially for international communication. * Focus on privacy: WhatsApp prioritized user privacy early on, setting it apart from competitors. * Simplicity: The app's user interface was straightforward and intuitive, making it accessible to a wide range of users. Today, WhatsApp boasts over two billion users worldwide, a testament to the vision and resilience of its founders. Their story reminds us that even the most successful ventures often face challenges, and through perseverance and a clear vision, true innovation flourishes. However, the story doesn't end there. In 2014, Meta (then known as Facebook) acquired WhatsApp in a landmark deal worth $21.8 billion. Despite the acquisition, WhatsApp continues to operate as a separate entity within Meta. #whatsapp #innovation #entrepreneur #communication #success
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A quick search through business records reveals numerous instances of individuals who built successful businesses from humble beginnings and achieved great success. You may be contemplating how to launch your own idea, but in the era of advanced technology in 2024, initiating a product and establishing your brand has never been more accessible. If you require motivation, consider the inspiring story of Jan Koum. Imagine a world without Whatsapp - a notion that seems impossible. Fortunately, Jan Koum, an immigrant from Ukraine to the United States, introduced the messaging app in 2009. Despite being raised in poverty, Koum immersed himself in computer knowledge. By the age of 18, he acquired advanced computer expertise, and in 1997, he joined Yahoo! as an infrastructure engineer. The idea for Whatsapp struck him after obtaining his first smartphone, enabling users to exchange messages via the internet across different nations. Facebook acquired the app for an astounding $19 billion. His key advice? "Focus on one thing and excel at it."
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Jan Koum - From Food Stamps to WhatsApp Founder Background: Jan Koum immigrated to the U.S. from Ukraine with his mother, living in a small apartment and relying on food stamps. Struggle: Koum taught himself computer networking by reading manuals bought from a used book store. He faced rejections early in his career, including from Facebook. Turning Point: He co-founded WhatsApp, focusing on simplicity and user privacy. WhatsApp grew rapidly, becoming the go-to messaging app for millions worldwide. Success: In 2014, Koum's life came full circle when Facebook acquired WhatsApp for $19 billion. His journey from a struggling immigrant to a technology leader is a striking example of how perseverance and innovation can lead to extraordinary success.
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