Facebook increases focus on 'conversations' with purchase of Branch and Potluck
In a move a company spokesperson termed an acqui-hire, today Facebook snapped up the 10 person team behind Branch and Potluck. Josh Miller and Cemre Güngör created the company in 2012 with financial support from Twitter co-founders Ev Williams and Biz Stone, and launched Branch, a social platform, alongside Potluck, a "web and mobile app designed for friends to hang out and talk about cool things they find online." According to The Verge, the deal is valued at $15 million. Both products will now fall within the social giant's umbrella, with the team forming a new Conversations group in New York City. Confirmed in a post from Miller, Branch and Potluck will "live on outside of Facebook," with products resembling both of the existing platforms to come.
