'></a>From Welfare Office to WhatsApp Billions: The Inspiring Story of Jan Koum

Bay Area Journal: Startup History Series #11: WhatsApp

Jan Koum chose to sign Facebook’s $19 billion acquisition contract at the doorway of a Mountain View, CA welfare office, a bittersweet reminder of the days he stood in line there collecting food stamps. A Ukrainian refugee, Koum arrived in the US at age 16 with his mother, who worked as a babysitter while he cleaned floors.

Koum’s journey from welfare recipient to tech billionaire is a classic Silicon Valley tale of perseverance, innovation, and, of course, a generous dose of luck. But it’s also a story of the American Dream, a testament to the power of opportunity and the transformative potential of technology.

Growing up in a small village outside of Kyiv, Ukraine, Koum had a difficult childhood. His father died when he was young, and his family struggled financially. In 1992, when Koum was 16, his family immigrated to the United States, settling in Mountain View, CA.

At first, Koum and his mother relied on government assistance to make ends meet. Koum attended high school and worked as a cleaner, while his mother worked as a babysitter. But Koum had big dreams, and he knew that he wanted more out of life.

After graduating high school, Koum enrolled in San Jose State University, where he studied computer science. He also got a job at Yahoo, where he worked as a software engineer for nine years.

In 2009, Koum left Yahoo to start his own company, WhatsApp. The company’s mission was to provide a simple and affordable way for people to stay connected with each other, regardless of their location.

WhatsApp quickly became a hit, and by 2014 it had over 500 million users. In 2014, Facebook acquired WhatsApp for $19 billion, making Koum a billionaire overnight.

Today, WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps in the world, with over 2 billion users. It’s a testament to Koum’s vision and perseverance, and it’s also a reminder that anything is possible if you have a dream and you’re willing to work hard.