How an outside idea reaches a company, in its own words · checked 2026-10-29
How to sell an idea to Meta
No stated policy
Meta does not say whether it reads outside ideas. Its terms say it may use feedback and suggestions without paying for them or keeping them confidential. It bought Instagram, WhatsApp and Oculus VR.
“But we may use feedback and other suggestions without any restriction or obligation to compensate you, and we are under no obligation to keep them confidential.”
What it has bought from outside
2012
Instagram from Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger $1 billion
“In April 2012, Facebook acquired the service for approximately US$1 billion in cash and stock.” en.wikipedia.org
2014
WhatsApp from Jan Koum and Brian Acton US$19 billion
“(now Meta Platforms) agreed to acquire the company for US$19 billion, its largest acquisition to date.…” en.wikipedia.org
2014
Oculus VR from Palmer Luckey, Brendan Iribe, Michael Antonov, Nate Mitchell US$ 2 billion
“Although Oculus only released a development prototype of its headset, on March 25, 2014, Mark Zuckerberg announced that Facebook, Inc. would be acquiring Oculus for US$ 2 billion, pending regulatory approval.” en.wikipedia.org
Other companies that take an invention or product idea
