Security Firm AVG Acquires Photo-Management Startup MyRoll

AVG, the Czech security company behind the popular security software AVG, has announced that it has acquired Israel-based photo-management startup MyRoll. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Originally established in Tel Aviv, Israel in 2012 as Flayvr Media, MyRoll has raised $2 million in funding last year and has quickly become an intelligent gallery app that surfaces all of your best photos and videos. 

In addition, MyRoll also launched a new stand alone app called Gallery Doctor, which audits your phone’s collection of pictures and help you free up storage on your device. MyRoll’s backers include Kaedan Capital, former Microsoft Corporate Vice President Moshe Lichtman, Aviv Venture Capital, iAngels, former Microsoft Vice President of Strategy and Partnership Hank Vigil, Fritz Lanman and Adler Chomski, as well as angel investors Rafi Gidron, Zohar Gilon, Yariv Gilat, and Partam Hightech.

MyRoll will join AVG’s Israel team at the Mobile Centre of Excellence in Tel Aviv. Country Manager Harel Tayeb will run AVG Israel while CEO Ron Levy and Adi Ashkenazi will lead MyRoll. 

Headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands, AVG Technologies (formerly known as Grisoft) is a Czech security company founded by Jan Gritzbach and Tomas Hofer, with offices in Europe, Israel, Brazil, Canada and the United States. AVG’s products include internet security, performance optimization, personal privacy and identity protection applications. 

AVG has been making a number of investments through its AVG Ventures arm, including its recent acquisition of UK-based Privax (the owner of HideMyAss VPN service) in May 2015. Best known for its desktop security software, AVG has made efforts recently to expand its portfolio of mobile apps, and moves into the app design and development market. 

AVG's mobile app, AVG Cleaner, helps mobile users clean their smartphones and tablets from unnecessary files and contents to create free up some space. AVG Cleaner is one of the most popular mobile cleaning apps in the market, and it’s offered in free and premium versions. The app's premium version adds real-time monitoring, defragging, file recovery and hardware analytics. The app’s competition in the market include CCleaner (Piriform), Glary, IObit, BleachBit, Defraggler and Recuvva. 

Image credit: Softmonk