Microsoft acquires video search co VideoSurf

VideoSurf was founded by four Israelis and investors include Pitango and Orbotech.

22 November 11 13:08, Roy Goldenberg

Microsoft Corporation (Nasdaq: MSFT) has acquired VideoSurf for tens of millions of dollars in an effort to improve its position in the online video search field. VideoSurf, founded by four Israelis in Silicon Valley, has developed a technology that locates video clips on the Internet.

VideoSurf raised $28 million from former US President Al Gore, Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg, Verizon Investment Fund, Pitango Venture Capital, Orbotech Ltd. (Nasdaq: ORBK) founder Hanan Gilutz, and SurveyMonkey CEO David Goldberg.

VideoSurf CEO Lior Delgo, Chief Scientist Prof. Achi Brandt, CTO Dr. Eitan Sharon, and COO Shai Deljo founded the company in 2006. The company's technology scans video websites, such as Hulu, Metacafe, and Dailymotion, enabling users to easily find a specific video online. The technology can scan video clips quickly, implement a thorough search of their content (such as faces or events), and tag the various clips. As of April 2011, more than 20 million users view VideoSurf clips each month.

Israel's AnyClip Ltd. supplies VideoSurf with video clips and specific scenes from Hollywood movies. VideoSurf's mobile app enables users to do a visual search of TV series. The software analyses the picture on the screen and knows how to identify it and to process various data like scenes and details about actors. The ap is similar to products developed by Israeli companies TvTak Ltd. and IntoNow, which was acquired by Yahoo Inc. (Nasdaq: YHOO) in April for $20 million.

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on November 22, 2011

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