Facebook has acquired social media startup, Branch, for $15 million. You might not have heard of Branch, but it is a link sharing service that allows the user to have conversations on any particular link that was shared within the app. The idea didn't take off as expected, but the 22 year old founder, Josh Miller, and his team of 8 continued work on the project. Now it seems all that hard work has finally paid off since Facebook has acquired the business and its employees. The big question right now is, what does Facebook want with Branch? It appears it's a move to compete directly with Twitter.
Despite the failure of Branch to gain a large loyal following, Miller and his team brought to life a new app called Potluck, a social network where users would share articles about quirky interests. It also allows for meeting people with the same interest. For example, if you're interested in listening to rock music, you could only choose to connect with folks who enjoy the same thing as you do. Great idea, but it too failed to gain much traction. It would now appear that CEO Josh Miller is aiming to incorporate these ideas directly into Facebook.
According to Miller, the social network wants him and his team to build Branch on a scale that is similar to Facebook. "Their pitch to us was: 'Build Branch at Facebook scale!'" read a post on Miller's Facebook page. To make this happen, Josh and his team will be heading a new group at Facebook called Conversations. We're wondering if this will be the name for a new Facebook service in the near future.
Miller went on to add that: "Although the products we build will be reminiscent of Branch and Potluck, those services will live on outside of Facebook. A more thoughtful note and details to come soon but I am writing this haphazardly from a mountain in Japan (I was tipped that the story was going to leak while on vacation). "
The acquisition of Branch might prove that Facebook wants to improve the way users have conversations, and the social network will need a lot of help to make that a possibility. This is the first step and we're interested in seeing what happens next.
Josh Miller did not state how much his company was acquired for by Facebook. However, a source told the Verge that the deal was for $15 million.
