eBay acquires recommendation engine Hunch.com

eBay has acquired online recommendation engine Hunch.com. Launched in 2009, Hunch.com provides customised recommendations to users based on their individual preferences. Its patented 'taste graph' prediction technology uses signals from around the internet to map members with their predicted affinity for products, services, other people, websites, or just about anything, and customises recommended topics for them. The Hunch technology and expertise in areas such as machine learning, data mining and predictive modeling will help eBay expand and grow merchandising and relevance capabilities to further improve the shopping and selling experience for eBay customers. Hunch's employees will remain with the company, including co-founders Chris Dixon, Tom Pinckney and Matt Gattis.