Google has helped to seed a company called Nextbit, which is actually founded by a former Googler. Via Accel and Google Ventures, Nextbit has raised $18 million in funding, though they’re not saying what it is they do. In fact, they go to great lengths to avoid doing so, raising eyebrows of curiosity along the way.
Tom Moss, the former Googler we spoke of, is actually a Googler twice over. He left the Android business development team in 2010 to start 3LM, which was later purchased by Motorola. From there, Moto was bought by Google, and Moss once again found himself under the auspice of Mountain View. His former company was dealing with mobile security, and without saying what Nextbit is up to this time around, we’re left to wonder.
The 14-person team is composed of several bright people with interesting work histories. Amazon and Dropbox dot the landscape of the San Francisco-based startup, and there is cross platform experience as well, with members having worked on iOS and Android. Google Venture’s Rick Miner, who co-founded Android, will join the board, as well as Accel’s Rich Wong. Both have high praise for Nextbit, hinting that what they’re working on has big implications.
Miner worked with Moss at Google, and said “He’s always one step ahead, and is better equipped than anyone I know to build a platform and products that address this space and bring a next-generation vision to market.” Still, no discussion of what “this” is, or which “space” he’ll occupy. Wong told Re/Code that Nextbit’s work involves “significant technological and business model challenges.” Still no mention of just what is actually happening.
With such high praise, there’s just no telling what Moss and his team have up their sleeve, and we’d likely be way off base to speculate. If you’re thinking Moss will end up a Googler for a third time in an acqui-hire, Moss says “that’s definitely not a business plan”. Hey, working at Google isn’t for everyone.
