Shaul Olmert

Shaul Olmert
EducationMaster's Degree, Interactive Telecommunications
Alma materNew York University
Occupation(s)Entrepreneur
Business Executive
Known forCo-Founder, Playbuzz
Parent(s)Ehud Olmert and Aliza Olmert
WebsiteShaul Olmert on LinkedIn

Shaul Olmert (born 1975) is an Israeli entrepreneur and business executive. He is the co-founder and chief executive officer of Piggy (AKA: Flying Pigs LTD.), a stealth mode start up based in Tel Aviv, Israel.[1][2] Prior to Piggy, he was the co-founder of Playbuzz, an online content publishing platform where he served as chief executive officer for eight years before stepping down and assuming a new role as the company's president.[3] He has been involved in numerous other startups including NetAlign, GameGround, and Sundaysky.[4] Olmert also worked as an executive with Nickelodeon/MTV Networks and Conduit.[5][6]

Early life and education

Olmert grew up in Israel. As a child he liked to develop computer programs and build machines out of electrical circuits from old radio transistors and walkie-talkie type gadgets.[7] His grandparents Bella and Mordechai Olmert came to Israel in 1933 after escaping from Odessa during the Russian Civil War in 1919.[8] They traveled to China prior to settling in 1930s Israel.[8] His father is former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. He served in the Israeli Army.[9] After his service, Olmert worked as a high school teacher in Jerusalem where he taught computers, prior to moving to New York to attend college.[7] He went on to attend New York University[10] where he earned a master's degree in Interactive Telecommunications.[11]

Career

Olmert began his business executive career as the director of business partnerships at Oberon Media prior to beginning his career for Nickelodeon/MTV Networks.[11] Olmert worked as the vice president of digital products for MTV Networks, primarily with MTV Games.[12] During his time with MTV he was in charge of adapting its television properties for the digital game industry.[8] Olmert left MTV in 2007 and served as president and chief marketing officer of SundaySky prior to joining Conduit as that company's chief marketing officer.[11]

In 2008, Olmert co-founded GameGround, a social network for gamers that sends game updates such as high scores to members through a feed.[13] It also provides tips and tricks for playing various video games.[13]

In 2012, Olmert founded the online content publishing platform Playbuzz with Tom Pachys, launching the website in December 2013. The website allows users, digital publishers, and brands to generate content in formats generally associated with viral media, including lists, quizzes, polls, ranked lists, and trivia that can be shared via social media or embedded elsewhere on the web.[10] By September 2014, seven of the 10 biggest stories on Facebook involved content that originated on Playbuzz.[14] The company took over the number one spot as the most shared publisher on Facebook in November 2014 with approximately 9 million shares. It was also listed by Inc. as one of the 15 Israeli Startups Getting Hot at the Turn of 2015.[15] In October 2019, he stepped down as CEO.[3]

Since September 2020 he is the co-founder and chief executive officer of Piggy (AKA: Flying Pigs LTD.), a stealth mode start up based in Tel Aviv, Israel.[2]

References

  1. ^ Olmert, Shaul (2020-09-14). "Choosing a co-founder is like choosing a life partner". CTECH - www.calcalistech.com. Retrieved 2020-10-03.
  2. ^ a b "Shaul Olmert unveils new startup - Flying Pigs". Globes. 2020-08-09. Retrieved 2020-10-03.
  3. ^ a b "Playbuzz CEO Shaul Olmert to Step Down". Calcalist. 10 October 2019. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
  4. ^ Abbruzzese, Jason (8 October 2014). "A 10-Month-Old Website Is Beating BuzzFeed at Its Own Game". Mashable. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  5. ^ Gannes, Liz (1 April 2011). "App Distributor Conduit in Talks for a Billion-Dollar Acquisition, Says Reports". All Things D. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  6. ^ Luewellyn, Howell (15 April 2006). "Madrid's Live-Music Shortage". Billboard Magazine.
  7. ^ a b Lizor, Noya (17 January 2015). "The (Play)Buzz on Shaul Olmert and why Playful Content is so damn viral". Viola Notes. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  8. ^ a b c Gilder, George F. (2013). The Israel Test: Why the World's Most Besieged State is a Beacon of Freedom and Hope for the World Economy. Encounter Books. ISBN 9781594036132. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  9. ^ "The Unexpected Candidate". Frontline. 28 March 2006. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  10. ^ a b Dewey, Caitlin (9 October 2014). "Meet PlayBuzz, the Israeli clickbait farm that just beat Buzzfeed - and is coming for you next". The Washington Post. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  11. ^ a b c "Conduit Names Shaul Olmert as Chief Marketing Officer". Conduit. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  12. ^ Takahashi, Dean (17 November 2010). "GameGround raises $5.3M for gamer social networking app". Venture Beat. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
  13. ^ a b Takahashi, Dean (3 June 2009). "GameGround snags $4.1 million from Sequoia for gamer services". Venture Beat. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  14. ^ Nicholson, David (14 October 2014). "What Kind of Quiz Are You? 5 Ways That Playbuzz Out-Muscled BuzzFeed In The Social Content Sensation Of The Year". Forbes. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  15. ^ Newlands, Murray (16 December 2014). "15 Israeli Startups Getting Hot at the Turn of 2015". Shalom Life. Retrieved 9 March 2015.