Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Applied Semantics' Elbaz Launches Data Mashup Startup

Gil Elbaz, one of the co-founders of Applied Semantics--the firm that developed the technology behind Google's AdSense--has launched a new startup, Factual. According to the Los Angeles-based firm, it is developing an online platform which allows anyone to share and mash open data. The new site--driven by an application programming interface the firm has named the Factual API--allows developers to connect their data with data from others. Factual said its products are being used by such companies as Demand Media and its Livestrong.com site. Applied Semantics is one of Southern California's most stealthy successes, and developed the key AdSense part of Google's advertising engine. It was acquired by Google with pre-IPO stock in 2003.