There Are 2 Low Key, Yet Very Rich, Founders Behind WhatsApp

In what's soon to rank as one of the great Silicon Valley creation stories — up there with the $40 rental late fee that drove Reed Hastings to found Netflix — WhatsApp started with restrictive gym policy

According to legend, WhatsApp co-founder and CEO Jan Koum came up with the idea for his company in early 2009 after his gym banned the use of cell phones. Koum became annoyed at missing calls during his workout and, being an engineer, decided to create a solution

Around the same time, Koum had decided on two things: The iPhone would be the future, not only a device, but an "extension of who you are." He also realized he hated advertising and would steer clear of it. Read more...