One year after it was launched in Israel, the controversial anonymous messaging app BlindSpot and Chinese music radio app MrC, are being acquired by Chinese investors for $ $32 million in all-cash deal. BLINDSPOT for $28 million and Mr C, for $4 million.
BLINDSPOT launched in Israel in December 2014 by Dor Refaeli, brother of Israeli model Bar Refaeli. inspit the heavily criticized by the Israeli press, claiming it has been used to attack people anonymously, the app grew to two million users since Shortly after launch.
Will you offer us a hand? Every gift, regardless of size, fuels our future.
Your critical contribution enables us to maintain our independence from shareholders or wealthy owners, allowing us to keep up reporting without bias. It means we can continue to make Jewish Business News available to everyone.
You can support us for as little as $1 via PayPal at office@jewishbusinessnews.com.
Thank you.
The buyer, Chinese consortium, includes Hong Kong investment firms, Wuhan Capital Ltd, Tianjin Games (Hong Kong) Ltd. and tech investors led by William Ding founder of Chinese Internet giant Netease, and a childhood friend of O.D. Kobo who was born in Hong Kong.
Peter Ng spokesman for Wuhan Capital has said: “If we can duplicate the rage BLINDSPOT had in Israel, to a larger country like China, this will prove to be an impressive investment for us”.
Shellanoo was founded in 2014 by Oded Kobo, the son of Bebo Kobo, previously the owner of Camden markets, London, and a serial entrepreneur. In 2010 he sold his Internet company in China for $120 million. Three years later, in 2013 he sold a teen social media app, Pheed for $40 million.
Shellanoo Group controlled by billionaire Roman Abramovich and Oded Kobo with celebrities investors including Will.I.Am, Nicki Minaj, David Guetta, Gee Roberson, the former Chairman of Geffen Records and more. In 2015 the company sold its a music streaming app, Music Messenger, for $25 million.
The company had planned an IPO on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE) earlier this month but the offering was canceled due to public criticised the company’s valuation of $177 million.
Shellanoo Group owns more than 20 products, and they are all for sale, the company said.
