O. D. Kobo

O.D. Kobo
Born Hong Kong
Residence Herzliya, Israel
Occupation Internet entrepreneur
Net worth Increase US$ 110 million (est. 2016)
Spouse(s) Eti Kobo (m. 2015)
Website shellanoo.com

Oded David "O.D." Kobo (Hebrew: עודד קובו‎; born August 30, 1975) is an Internet entrepreneur and businessman.[1][2][3]

A strong influence in a number of innovative start-ups over the last two decades, Kobo started his IT career at the age of 21 by licensing patented technology to the online lottery industry. From 2002-2009 Kobo led several China based Internet companies namely KGIM, SinoSheen and Koolanoo Group. KGIM a holding group of multiple Internet properties was once partnered with the Prime Minister of Qatar Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani and Baidu. SinoSheen was sold in early 2007 for an undisclosed sum and KGIM was sold to private equity group East River Capital a subsidiary of the Qatar Investment Authority in 2009 for US $120 million. [4]

Kobo had also founded Pheed, a popular teen social media app that was launched in November 2012 and sold in March 2014 to Mobli Media Group a subsidiary owned mainly by Carlos Slim and Moshe Hogeg for US $40 million.[5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]

Kobo sits on the board of several IT companies and is currently the Chairman of Shellanoo Group. Shellanoo Group is a technology company specializing in mobile applications, Internet related services, and interactive artificial intelligence. Kobo is partnered in Shellanoo Group by way of investment with David Guetta, Avicii, Will.I.Am, Tiësto, Sebastian Ingrosso, Nicki Minaj, Benny Andersson, Ash Pournouri and Gee Roberson, amongst other notable figures from the entertainment industry.[13][14][15] On March 20, 2015 multi-billionaire businessman Roman Abramovich partnered with Kobo in Shellanoo Group by leading a $30 million investment round valuing the company at over $100 million.[16][17][18] On December 12, 2015 it was first reported in Calcalist Israel's leading business newspaper that Shellanoo Group reached a company valuation of $250 million.[19] On February 12, 2016 it was announced in Yedioth Ahronoth Israel's national daily newspaper that Shellanoo Group is developing interactive artificial intelligence products and has accumulated further funding valuing it at over US $300 million.

Kobo is a former Board Director of Camden Market Holdings (Market Tech Holdings Ltd (LON:MKT)), a real estate conglomerate based in London, England owner of the iconic Camden Market, Stables Market and Camden Lock Developments. Camden Market Holdings was sold in March 2014 for US $664 million to Israeli billionaire Teddy Sagi of Playtech.[20][21][22]

Further reading

Abramovich invests $30 million in O.D. Kobo's new Start-Up

Chinese Internet Tycoon

O.D. Kobo: China

Music Messenger is Exploding

OD Kobo interview with Bloomberg Television

References

  1. ↑ Carney, Michael. "Chinese Internet Tycoon". PandoDaily. Retrieved October 12, 2012.
  2. ↑ Jeff Barrett (April 2, 2013). "Pheed is breakout social media star of 2013". Washington Times Communities. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
  3. ↑ Chris Dannen (March 6, 2013). "What American Startups Can Learn From The Cutthroat Chinese Software Industry". Fast Company. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
  4. ↑ Carney, Michael. "Chinese Internet Tycoon". Pando Daily. Retrieved October 12, 2012.
  5. ↑ Butcher, Mike. "Instagram Competitor Mobli Gets $60M From Carlos Slim To Build A Visual Search Engine". TechCrunch.
  6. ↑ Ilya, Pozin. "Launch to Exit in 18 Months: Pheed Acquired for $40M". Forbes. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
  7. ↑ Pozin, Ilya. http://www.forbes.com/sites/ilyapozin/2014/09/18/launch-to-exit-in-18-months-pheed-acquired-for-40m/. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  8. ↑ Ilya Pozin (October 18, 2012). "Is Pheed the New Twitter?". Forbes. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
  9. ↑ Jon Swartz (February 19, 2013). "Pheed is feeding teens' thirst for social media". USA Today. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
  10. ↑ Dan Milano (March 21, 2013). "Pheed: The Social Network That's Winning Over Teens from Facebook and Twitter". ABC News. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
  11. ↑ Craig Kanalley (February 25, 2013). "Pheed Leaps Facebook, Twitter As Top Social App for iPhone". Huffington Post. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
  12. ↑ Michael Carney (October 12, 2012). "Chinese Internet tycoon launches Pheed, an influencer social platform offering real monetization". Pando Daily. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
  13. ↑ Petersburg, Ofer. "International Musicians Invest in Israeli App". Ynet News. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  14. ↑ Wolf, Jordana. "Music Moguls Love Israeli App 'Music Messenger'". No Camels - Israeli Innovation News. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
  15. ↑ Pozin, Ilya. "Music Messenger Takes Center Stage". Forbes. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  16. ↑ Flanagan, Andrew (April 22, 2015). "Music Messenger, the App That Nicki Minaj and David Guetta Invested In, Is Exploding -- Here's Why". Billboard. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
  17. ↑ Pozin, Ilya (24 April 2015). "7 Months From Launch, Music Messenger Closes $30 Million Funding Round". Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  18. ↑ Goldenberg, Roy. "Abramovich invests in Music Messenger". Globes. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  19. ↑ Orbach, Meir. "Shellanoo Group reaches $250 million valuation". Calcalist. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  20. ↑ Minchom, Clive. "Teddy Sagi Buys London’s Camden Stables Market In Deal Valued At US$664 Million". JewishBusinessNews.
  21. ↑ Dannen, Chris. "What American Startups Can Learn From The Cutthroat Chinese Software Industry". Fast Company. Retrieved March 6, 2013.
  22. ↑ Staff (May 8, 2013). "Q&A Wednesday! Tony DeNiro of "Pheed"". NYPN. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
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