Nadav Shoval
{{Short description|Israeli entrepreneur (born 1990)}}
{{Infobox person
| image = Image of Nadav S.jpg
| native_name = נדב שובל
| native_name_lang = he
| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1990}}
| birth_place = Israel
| known_for = Founder of OpenWeb
| title = CEO of OpenWeb
| term = 2015 - 2024
| successor = Tim Harvey
}}
Nadav Shoval ({{Langx|he|נדב שובל}}; born 1990) is an Israeli entrepreneur and technology executive.{{Cite web |last=Spot.IM |first=Nadav Shoval |date=2015-03-15 |title=Advice to young entrepreneurs: 5 things I wish I'd known before taking on the CEO role |url=https://venturebeat.com/business/advice-to-young-entrepreneurs-3-things-i-wish-id-known-before-taking-on-the-ceo-role/ |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=VentureBeat |language=en-US}} In 2012, he founded OpenWeb,{{Cite news |last=Coffee |first=Patrick |date=2022-10-27 |title=OpenWeb, Which Helps Publishers Target Readers With Ads, Raises $170 Million |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/openweb-which-helps-publishers-target-readers-with-ads-raises-170-million-11666868402 |access-date=2024-01-05 |work=Wall Street Journal |language=en-US |issn=0099-9660}}{{Cite web |date=2024-10-20 |title=“How many times does a board have to tell a CEO his services are no longer needed?”: OpenWeb counters Shoval’s lawsuit |url=https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/hy7sl2flyx |access-date=2025-01-24 |website=ctech |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2024-09-11 |title=Unicorn OpenWeb announces new CEO, but founding CEO refuses to step down |url=https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/h1hxjkkta |access-date=2025-02-07 |website=ctech |language=en}} a U.S.-based software company that works with online publishers and advertisers. He served as its CEO from 2015 to 2024.{{Cite web |date=2022-09-21 |title=The Human Founder: Why is Working on Our Mental Muscles the Most Important Job as Startup Founders? |url=https://www.geektime.com/gali-bloch-liran-interviews-nadav-shoval/ |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=Geektime |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Nadav Shoval, Openweb Inc: Profile and Biography |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/person/22991489 |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=Bloomberg.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Gallant |first=Michael |date=2020-06-05 |title=#16 - From Kawasaki Disease to Tech Unicorn - Nadav Shoval |url=https://www.mbawobs.com/post/16-from-kawasaki-disease-to-tech-unicorn-nadav-shoval |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=MBA without BS |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Nadav Shoval {{!}} Co-Founder and CEO - OpenWeb |url=https://board.fastcompany.com/profile/Nadav-Shoval-Co-Founder-CEO-OpenWeb/d9139c13-da46-4002-8626-381bc1d89447 |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=Fast Company Executive Board |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2017-04-14 |title=N12 - הנער שלא האמינו בו והפך ליזם מיליונר |url=https://www.mako.co.il/news-money/tech-q2_2017/Article-4a765eefebd6b51004.htm |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=N12}} In 2017, he was included in Forbes Israel's "30 Under 30" list.{{Cite web |last=Releases |first=Forbes Press |title=Forbes Announces Second Annual Forbes Israel 30 Under 30 List, Highlighting the Accomplishments of 60 Game Changers from Across Israeli Society |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbespr/2017/02/20/forbes-announces-second-annual-forbes-israel-30-under-30-list-highlighting-the-accomplishments-of-60-game-changers-from-across-israeli-society/ |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=Forbes |language=en}}{{Cite book |last=Merson |first=Rupert |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xAV5CgAAQBAJ&dq=Nadav+Shoval&pg=PT75 |title=Growing a Business: Strategies for leaders and entrepreneurs |date=2016-02-25 |publisher=Profile |isbn=978-1-78283-047-4 |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=חתן |first=גלית |date=2023-07-26 |title=אופן ווב חתמה על עסקאות בהיקף מאות מיליוני דולרים |url=https://www.globes.co.il/news/article.aspx?did=1001453399 |access-date=2024-01-05 |work=Globes}}
Early life and education
Nadav Shoval was born in 1990. During childhood, he was diagnosed with Kawasaki disease, a condition that limited his physical activity for a period of time.{{Cite web |last=Gallant |first=Michael |date=2020-06-05 |title=#16 - From Kawasaki Disease to Tech Unicorn - Nadav Shoval |url=https://www.mbawobs.com/post/16-from-kawasaki-disease-to-tech-unicorn-nadav-shoval |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=MBA without BS |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Spiro |first=James |date=2020-06-25 |title=Talkback platform Spot.im is rebranding and cracking down on online toxicity |url=https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3835913,00.html |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=CTECH - www.calcalistech.com}}{{Cite web |title=The Human Founder Podcast {{!}} Ep. 75 |url=https://www.galiblochliran.com/podcast/why-is-working-on-our-mental-muscles-the-most-important-job-as-startup-founders |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=www.galiblochliran.com}} During his recovery, he developed an interest in computers and began participating in online communities. He built chat platforms and forums, and contributed to classroom computer projects.{{Cite web |date=2022-09-21 |title=The Human Founder: Why is Working on Our Mental Muscles the Most Important Job as Startup Founders? |url=https://www.geektime.com/gali-bloch-liran-interviews-nadav-shoval/ |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=Geektime |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=חתן |first=גלית |date=2023-07-26 |title=אופן ווב חתמה על עסקאות בהיקף מאות מיליוני דולרים |url=https://www.globes.co.il/news/article.aspx?did=1001453399 |access-date=2024-01-05 |work=Globes}}{{Cite news |last=אביגד |first=דורון |date=2021-10-23 |title=לא עשה בגרות אבל הקים חברה של מאות מיליונים: "דחפו לי רטלין" |url=https://www.globes.co.il/news/article.aspx?did=1001387952 |access-date=2024-01-05 |work=Globes}}
Career
In July 2005, Nadav Shoval founded Looop Ltd., a company focused on online marketing and sales.{{Cite web |title=TheOrg (Nadav Shoval) |url=https://theorg.com/org/openweb/org-chart/nadav-shoval}} In May 2010, he launched Simple One, an app designed to organize social media platforms and SMS communications, where he served as CEO.{{Cite web |title=Contactout.com |url=https://contactout.com/Nadav-Shoval-1692250}}
In 2015, Shoval co-founded Spot.IM, later renamed OpenWeb, a U.S.-based software company.{{Cite news |title=Spot.IM מגייסת 13 מיליון דולר כדי להציל את המו"לים מפייסבוק |url=https://www.themarker.com/technation/2016-08-03/ty-article/0000017f-f6a8-d044-adff-f7f93a290000 |access-date=2024-01-05 |work=TheMarker}} The company develops tools for online publishers and advertisers, including moderation software and community engagement platforms.{{Cite web |last=FinSMEs |date=2022-10-27 |title=OpenWeb Raises $170M In Series F Funding At $1.5 Billion Valuation |url=https://www.finsmes.com/2022/10/openweb-raises-170m-in-series-f-funding-at-1-5-billion-valuation.html |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=FinSMEs |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=TechAviv {{!}} Nadav Shoval |url=https://www.techaviv.com/people/nadav-shoval |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=www.techaviv.com}} According to interviews, Shoval described the company’s mission as creating safer online communities through social media tools.{{Cite web |title=Where's This Going: #78 Nadav Shoval on Apple Podcasts |url=https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/78-nadav-shoval/id1460507946?i=1000532370690 |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=Apple Podcasts |language=en-US}}
As CEO, he oversaw the company’s expansion into AI- and ML-driven moderation technologies, as well as its growth in data and advertising sectors.{{Cite web |title=OpenWeb CEO on Creating a Healthier Internet, Elon Musk 'Acting Like a Troll' |url=https://cheddar.com/media/openweb-ceo-on-creating-a-healthier-internet-elon-musk-acting-like-a-troll |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=Cheddar News}}{{Cite news |last=חתן |first=גלית |date=2023-07-26 |title=אופן ווב חתמה על עסקאות בהיקף מאות מיליוני דולרים |url=https://www.globes.co.il/news/article.aspx?did=1001453399 |access-date=2024-01-05 |work=Globes}}
In 2024, Shoval was removed as CEO by OpenWeb’s board of directors, a decision he unsuccessfully contested in the Tel Aviv District Court.{{Cite news |date=2024-11-13 |title=Court rejects Nadav Shoval's petition against OpenWeb ouster |url=https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-court-rejects-nadav-shovals-petition-against-openweb-ouster-1001493906 |access-date=2025-01-24 |work=Globes |language=en}}
He is listed as a member of the World Economic Forum's Global Coalition for Digital Safety.{{Cite web |title=Global Coalition for Digital Safety |url=https://initiatives.weforum.org/global-coalition-for-digital-safety/members}}
Personal life
As of 2023, Shoval lives in Brooklyn, New York City. He is married and has one child.{{Cite web |date=2022-09-21 |title=The Human Founder: Why is Working on Our Mental Muscles the Most Important Job as Startup Founders? |url=https://www.geektime.com/gali-bloch-liran-interviews-nadav-shoval/ |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=Geektime |language=en}}