Facebook Buys Social Startup Branch to Spearhead New 'Conversations' Group Facebook has snapped up Branch for a reported $15 million and appointed the Branch team to run its new Conversations group in New York.

By Nina Zipkin

Facebook has acquired social startup Branch Media and hired its 9-person team to head up its new Facebook Conversations group in New York.

In an announcement on Facebook this morning, Branch CEO and co-founder Josh Miller explained the new arm of the company was created "with the goal of helping people connect with others around their interests. Their pitch to us was: 'Build Branch at Facebook scale!'" According to a report from The Verge, Branch was purchased for about $15 million.

Related: Pinterest Buys Startup Specializing in Visual Search Technology

Branch is behind several messaging and discussion tools, including the eponymous Branch (initially called Roundtable), a platform for invitation-only, in-depth conversations. The company also created Potluck, a "bite-sized" link-sharing service for the iPhone, and most recently, PhoneTag Messenger, described as a "free photo walkie-talkie" that has users send a photo with an accompanying voice recording.

Miller wrote in his announcement that while the future Facebook products will be "reminiscent of Branch and Potluck," the existing Branch tools will continue to be their own entities. He also thanked the company's investors, including Buzzfeed's Jonah Peretti and Twitter co-founders Evan Williams and Biz Stone and mentor Jason Goldman, who supported Branch through their incubator, the Obvious Corporation.

Related: Is Snapchat's Co-Founder Completely Crazy for Turning Down $3 Billion From Facebook?

Along with co-founders Hursh Agrawal and Cemre Güngör, Miller clearly aims to influence how people engage with each other online, and has been critical and vocal about Facebook's scope and impact in the past.

In a Medium post from May titled "The Next Facebook," Miller wrote, "My hunch is that for a company to become The Next Facebook, it will need to enable a novel network of people. That's not to say it won't start with your friends -- Twitter didn't have Oprah on Day One -- but ultimately its network will need to look different than your Address Book. Otherwise, it'll just be another watering hole." With that attitude in mind, it will be interesting to see how the Conversations group evolves.

Related: Google Snaps Up Company Whose Robots Remind People of 'Terminator' Movies

Nina Zipkin

Entrepreneur Staff

Staff Writer. Covers leadership, media, technology and culture.

Nina Zipkin is a staff writer at Entrepreneur.com. She frequently covers leadership, media, tech, startups, culture and workplace trends.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Starting a Business

'Don't Wait Until Everything Is Just Right': How a Common Frustration Inspired This Entrepreneur to Co-Found a Thriving Business

Mike Mayer, co-founder and co-CEO of Windmill, shares how an annoying struggle with an air conditioning unit sparked the idea for an innovative air quality company.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Business Solutions

Windows 11 Pro for $20: Built for Business Owners Who Do It All

A one-time payment gives you lifetime access to the tools you need to secure data, streamline workflows, and scale your business.

Franchise

From Powerhouses Like Jersey Mike's and Taco Bell to Icons Like Pizza Hut, These are the Top Fast-Food Franchises in 2025

Discover the 10 most successful QSR franchises of 2025, based on Entrepreneur's Franchise 500 ranking.

Business Process

Who's in Your Inner Circle? How Your Closest Connections Shape Your Success

Your success is shaped by the five people you spend the most time with — choose wisely.

Money & Finance

Startup Founders Need to Advocate For Their Own Compensation — Here's How to Do It Right

Ensuring fair compensation as a founder or CEO is crucial to staying motivated and building a successful company. Here's how to strategically handle the conversation and get the pay that reflects your worth.