Shabtai formed a new company

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The roots of Waze can be traced back to 2006 when Ehud Shabtai, Amir Shinar, and Uri Levine came together to work on a project called FreeMap Israel. Initially, FreeMap Israel focused on digitally mapping Israel in the Hebrew language. However, the founders soon realized that their innovative technology had the potential to address a much broader problem – the inefficiencies of traditional navigation systems. They saw an opportunity to leverage real-time user-generated data to provide drivers with the most accurate and up-to-date navigation information, in contrast to the static data provided by traditional GPS devices.


called Waze and officially launched the Waze app in Israel. The app quickly wholesale email list gained popularity among local drivers who appreciated its real-time traffic updates, crowdsourced incident reporting, and dynamic rerouting capabilities. As more drivers joined the Waze community, the accuracy and reliability of the data improved, making the app an indispensable tool for commuters across the country. Waze’s success in Israel caught the attention of venture capitalists, and in 2010, the company secured funding from prominent investors, including Kleiner Perkins and Horizon Ventures.


Buoyed by the investment, Waze expanded its operations globally and launched app versions in various countries. In 2013, Waze reached a significant milestone when Google acquired it. The acquisition allowed Waze to tap into Google’s vast resources and expertise, enabling the company to enhance its product further and scale its operations. Despite being under the Google umbrella, Waze has maintained its distinct brand and community-driven approach, relying on user-generated data to provide accurate and personalized navigation experiences. Over the years, Waze has continued to innovate and introduce new features to its app.