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EBay acquires Hunch.com

November 21, 2011

EBay has acquired Hunch, an online platform launched in 2009, that delivers customized recommendations to its users based on their individual tastes.

Hunch's patented prediction technology — also known as a "taste graph" — uses signals from around the Web to map members with their predicted affinity for products, services, other people, websites, or just about anything, and customizes recommended topics for them.

Hunch's technology talent and its deep expertise in areas like machine learning, data mining and predictive modeling are expected to help eBay expand and grow merchandising and relevance capabilities to further improve the shopping and selling experience for eBay customers, according to Mark Carges, chief technology officer and senior vice president, Global Products, Marketplaces.

"We are engaging consumers in innovative ways and attracting top technologists to shape the future of commerce," Carges said. "With Hunch, we're adding new capabilities to personalizing the shopping experience on eBay to the individual relevant tastes and interests of our customers. We expect Hunch's technologies to benefit eBay shoppers as they browse and buy, and to bring sellers on eBay new ways to connect the right products with the right customers."

Hunch's familiarity with and expertise in tailoring data to meet customer needs can also be applied to other technology opportunities across eBay, including search, advertising and marketing initiatives, to better surface product and search results based on customers' tastes.

Hunch's employees will remain with the company, including co-founders Chris Dixon, Tom Pinckney and Matt Gattis. Hunch will continue to be based in New York.

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