Koolanoo Group

About Koolanoo Group

Koolanoo Group, established in 2005, operates as a venture capital investor and operator of new media properties, with a strategic focus on the Chinese market. Headquartered in Beijing, China, the firm identifies and invests in emerging internet and media ventures. The company was founded by Oded "O.D." Kobo and Guy Greenberg, who initially launched the venture as a Jewish social networking site before pivoting to capitalize on the burgeoning Web 2.0 landscape in China. Kobo, who served as CEO, was recognized as a young entrepreneur who had achieved significant success in the internet industry from an early age.

The firm's business model centers on acquiring, operating, and scaling internet platforms, licensing software, and supplying online content tailored for the Chinese audience. Koolanoo Group actively invests in the research and development of its products and services to maintain relevance in China's dynamic new media sector. The company's revenue generation is linked to the operations and eventual exits of its portfolio companies.

A cornerstone of Koolanoo's portfolio was its investment in 360Quan.com, a social network aimed at teenagers in China. At one point, 360Quan was cited as the third-largest social network in the country, servicing a significant portion of China's young internet users. The group also developed and owned other digital assets, including a Chinese internet browser called iQ: The Smart Browser and planned expansions into services like iQmail and 360TV. The firm's investment history includes a notable exit with the company Yeziwang. In 2008, Koolanoo Group successfully closed a $25 million funding round, bringing its total raised capital to $33 million, with Giza Venture Capital being a recurring investor.