Facebook Buys Yet Another NYC Startup -- Why Doesn't It Just Open An Engineering Office Here Already
Facebook has purchased its third New York startup in just a few months, Zenbe, to use some of its parts for its new email/messaging product, CNET reports.
Previously, it acquired NYC-based Hot Potato and Drop.io, so it could hire its founders, Justin Shaffer and Sam Lessin.
And as we reported on Friday, it has hired Nathan Folkman, and early Foursquare engineer.
The following is what we had to say about this trend on Friday...
Hey Mark Zuckerberg, why not just open a New York office already? Then, when you buy New York-based startups or hire their employees away, they won't have to move to Silicon Valley.
Plus, there's plenty of engineers on Wall Street and at Google who will be getting bored enough to jump ship soon! Don't just let the NYC startups steal them all.
While Facebook -- founded on the East Coast -- is now as Silicon Valley as it gets, there may be a good reason to actually hire engineers in New York.
There is a unique combination of population density, social activity, media and advertising presence, and fun factor. Even Ron Conway has talked about New York's advantages for social media companies. (Once, when asked during an interview if Foursquare should move to California, Conway responded, “Hell, no.")
Facebook, which just opened an engineering office in Seattle, actually advertises one engineering job opening in New York, but that's for working with partners' Facebook integrations -- not core Facebook features.
But as the company continues to expand, it may be smart to open an engineering and product office here, as Google did years ago. Perhaps Shaffer and Lessin could even bring Places and some other Facebook products here, and run the office.
Earlier: Facebook Poaches Foursquare Engineer
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7o8HSoqWeq6Oeu7S1w56pZ5ufonynrcKemainm2LHprrBnmRraGFlenJ9