Series A · Consumer
WhatsApp raises $8 million from Sequoia Capital
The investment backed a mobile messaging company founded by Jan Koum and Brian Acton.
WhatsApp raised $8 million from Sequoia Capital in April 2011. The investment connected the company founded by Jan Koum and Brian Acton with a venture firm that saw an opportunity to challenge traditional SMS messaging as smartphones became more widely used.
The app focused on making mobile conversations simple, letting people communicate over an internet connection. Sequoia’s investment thesis centred on that focused product and its rapid adoption, giving WhatsApp a venture backer as it built an independent messaging business.
Funding history
Series A · This round$8M