Jan Koum is feeling emotional.

Yesterday at 02q38 ·

It's been almost a decade since Brian and I started

WhatsApp, and it's been an amazing journey with
some of the best people. But it is time for me to move
on. I've been blessed to work with such an incredibly
small team and see how a crazy amount of focus can
produce an app used by so many people all over the
world.
I'm leaving at a time when people are using WhatsApp
in more ways than I could have imagined. The team is
stronger than ever and it'll continue to do amazing
things. I'm taking some time off to do things I enjoy
outside of technology, such as collecting rare air-
cooled Porsches, working on my cars and playing
ultimate frisbee. And I'll still be cheering WhatsApp on
– just from the outside. Thanks to everyone who has
made this journey possible.

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You, Mark Zuckerberg and 4K others

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Mark Zuckerberg
Jan: I will miss working so closely
with you. I'm grateful for everything
you've done to help connect the
world, and for everything you've
taught me, including about
encryption and its ability to take
power from centralized systems and
put it back in people's hands. Those
values will always be at the heart of
WhatsApp. 1K

on Mon Like More

Ari Teman replied · 8 replies

Dieter Landenberger
Definetely a big step, but sometimes it‘s
time in life to move on. Much respect for
this. And spending time with air-cooled
Porsches is always a good thing... 7

on Mon Like More

Jan Koum
thanks Dieter... technically it is
fun with both air cooled and
water cooled but air cooled is
just much more fun to find and
learn about... 23

on Mon Like More

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Bud Szurek
Jan, enjoy the pause. May your air
cooled experiences be carefree and
spirited but donʼt let the Widow Maker
bite 5

on Mon Like More

Jan Koum
thanks! restoring my 1975 930 now -
can't wait to drive it. what model
year was your again? 3

23 hrs Like More

Amy Wu
So this means you'll have some time
to finally babysit? 27

on Mon Like More

Jan Koum
haha sure... how much? 25

on Mon Like More

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Randall Sarafa
Never changing those reply and
forward icons now 16

on Mon Like More

Jan Koum
Randall Sarafa i am not leaving
'til it is done!!! 17

23 hrs Like More

Anne Yeh
Thanks for everything Jan! It's been a
true pleasure working with you 6

on Mon Like More

Jan Koum
thanks for all the help Anne.. 3

23 hrs Like More

Nikita Kozlovski
Good idea, congrats! You should never
work at any place for more than 10
years. But the job market is good now,
you'll be ok. Got any prospects? 15

on Mon Like More

Jan Koum
I have always wanted to be a
Marine Biologist 29

23 hrs Like More

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Amy Lung
Jan, glad you finally have a real break.
Please tour to Asia/HK to get
aspirations on the next stage. May be
WhyApp! 16

on Mon Like More

Jan Koum
thanks Amy! 3

23 hrs Like More

Jenia Tarsol
So now u have time to visit 5

on Mon Like More

Jan Koum
thats the plan!
19

23 hrs Like More

Ben Lee
Play more badminton 5

on Mon Like More

Jan Koum
i am too far behind now to catch
up 5

23 hrs Like More

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Alisa Koysman
You deserve some rest! 2

on Mon Like More

Jan Koum
haha... serenity now 3

23 hrs Like More

Virginie Eskénazi
WhereApp are you going? 5

on Mon Like More

Jan Koum
WhatsApp? 6

on Mon Like More

Nikita Likhachev
Give a call to Pavel? 36

on Mon Like More

Jan Koum
Pavel Kramer тебя зовут 28

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on Mon Like More

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Sheryl Sandberg
Jan, the work you've done building
WhatsApp has connected so many
people around the world. Iʼm
grateful to have worked with you
and I wish you all the best in your
next chapter. 223

on Mon Like More

Vera Fishman
Congrats! End of an era. Canʼt believe
itʼs been a decafr since we were both
translating our resumes into Russian
)) 9

on Mon Like More

Alisa Kryzhanovska
can't decide whether to use GIF or
sticker to express my gratitude. Much
love Jan! 15

on Mon Like More

Angie Hartford... replied · 1 reply

Fane Sigal
Congrats man, enjoy the time. Come to
sarasota 4

on Mon Like More

Lauren Lagis
Congrats and well deserved. Holla
when your in NYC 4

on Mon Like More

Zhen Ya
You are leaving to become a prof. poker
player? 3

on Mon Like More

Ken Verb
h.a.g.s. 12

on Mon Like More

Matthew Idema
Thank you Jan for everything. It has
been a real privilege working with
and learning from you and the
teams that you built. 24

on Mon Like More

Max Ku Ku
Congrats! I quit my job after 8 years
just last Friday to focus on things
that I enjoy more and havent had
time to do. Cheers from Scottish
Highlands 5

19 hrs Like More

Noosheen Hashemi
Well earned time to do whatever your
heart desires - WhatsApp is an
extraordinary story even among
extraordinary stories..so many lessons for
entrepreneurs - god speed 1

16 hrs Like More

Mubarik Imam
Thank you Jan for creating an incredible
product and a great company, that is a family
to many of us. I have learnt so much from
you - from first principle thinking to saying
no (can't say it enough) to using humor to
diffuse the most tense situations and even
understanding Kanye references. The love
and care that you show for those around you
is unparalleled. You will be truly missed! I'm
excited for your next chapter.
8 mins Like More

Elina Greez
Thatʼs my ultimate goal to retire at my early
40th! Best of luck in your “real life” journey ,
Jan and thanks for WhatsApp:)
11 hrs Like More

Deb Goodkin
Good luck with your next endeavor!
Thank you for using FreeBSD at
WhatsApp, and giving so much back to
our Project. I will continue using your
story to inspire others to contribute to
our project. Enjoy your time off. 5

on Mon Like More

Kristin Tedford
Fun working with you and Brian in the early
days prepping for Mobile World Congress!
Congrats to you!! Enjoy finding new
passions!
1 min Like More

Colin Stretch
Congratulations Jan on an epic run and
on creating something truly novel, at
scale. 1

13 hrs Like More

Eric Boyd
Looking forward to an ultimate frisbee
reunion! 5

on Mon Like More

Lisa Nakashoji
Jan, its been a privilege to work with
you. Thank you for all your support
over these last couple of years. I wish
you the very best! 2

22 hrs Like More

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