"> Sequoia Funds Snaptu to Power Apps on Java Phones - VC Cafe
May 2, 2026 Weekly insights on Israeli tech, venture capital, and AI
Gili Raanan

Sequoia Funds Snaptu to Power Apps on Java Phones

Tel Aviv based startup Snaptu has received an undsiclosed round of funding from Sequoia Capital. Snaptu, previously known as Moblica, brings iPhone-style apps to any phone that can run a Java application (according to Snaptu, most phones do).

The software is available for free download at m.snaptu.com. Once installed, the software will appear in the phone’s “games” or “applications” folder, offering a pre-loaded set of apps like a mobile Twitter client, Facebook, Picasa, news RSS reader, Trivia and more.

In the official announcement, Gili Raanan,a partner at Sequoia Capital said:

“We’re excited by Snaptu’s technology and vision and look forward to working with them to fulfill it. We see huge value for consumers and mobile operators in Snaptu’s unique approach to bringing mobile applications to virtually any phone”

When you use snaptu for the first time, a set of default apps appear on the home page of the applications. You can add, remove and organize these apps by using the menu

Snaptu monetizes its apps with ads, so they all remain free to users. The company was founded by Ran Makavy, Barak Naveh, Lior Tal and Micha Berdichevsky. It has reported to have 4 million downloads to date.

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Co Founder and Managing Partner at Remagine Ventures
Eze Vidra is the founder of VC Cafe and the co-founder and managing partner of Remagine Ventures, a pre-seed fund investing in ambitious founders at the intersection of AI, technology, entertainment, gaming, and commerce with a spotlight on Israel.

He is a former General Partner at Google Ventures (GV) in Europe, former head of Google for Entrepreneurs in Europe, and founding head of Campus London, Google's first startup hub. Eze writes on Israeli tech, venture capital, artificial intelligence, and founder strategy.

He is also the founder of Techbikers, a nonprofit that brings together the startup ecosystem on cycling challenges in support of Room to Read.
Eze Vidra
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