His Lovers
Seed Round in 2022
His Lovers is an online dating platform. It offers the chance to meet new people and form romantic relationships.
Rec Room
Venture Round in 2021
Rec Room Inc., founded in 2016 and based in Seattle, Washington, operates an online platform that serves as a virtual social club where users can create and play games with friends. The company focuses on augmented and virtual reality experiences, facilitating social interactions and multiplayer gameplay. Its application allows users to engage in a virtual environment, enabling them to chat, meet, and socialize with others globally. Rec Room aims to build a vibrant community centered around gaming and social engagement.
Rec Room Inc., founded in 2016 and based in Seattle, Washington, operates an online platform that serves as a virtual social club where users can create and play games with friends. The company focuses on augmented and virtual reality experiences, facilitating social interactions and multiplayer gameplay. Its application allows users to engage in a virtual environment, enabling them to chat, meet, and socialize with others globally. Rec Room aims to build a vibrant community centered around gaming and social engagement.
Rec Room Inc., founded in 2016 and based in Seattle, Washington, operates an online platform that serves as a virtual social club where users can create and play games with friends. The company focuses on augmented and virtual reality experiences, facilitating social interactions and multiplayer gameplay. Its application allows users to engage in a virtual environment, enabling them to chat, meet, and socialize with others globally. Rec Room aims to build a vibrant community centered around gaming and social engagement.
Discord is a communication platform that offers voice, video, and text services, enabling users to connect with friends and communities. Originally designed for gamers, it has evolved to serve a broader audience, including local clubs, art groups, and study sessions. The platform supports voice-over-internet protocol and texting, ensuring seamless communication across desktops and mobile devices. This versatility allows users to engage in conversations and activities without compromising performance, particularly for gamers who require uninterrupted communication while playing. Discord's focus on community interaction has made it a popular choice for diverse groups seeking to collaborate and socialize online.
Discord is a communication platform that offers voice, video, and text services, enabling users to connect with friends and communities. Originally designed for gamers, it has evolved to serve a broader audience, including local clubs, art groups, and study sessions. The platform supports voice-over-internet protocol and texting, ensuring seamless communication across desktops and mobile devices. This versatility allows users to engage in conversations and activities without compromising performance, particularly for gamers who require uninterrupted communication while playing. Discord's focus on community interaction has made it a popular choice for diverse groups seeking to collaborate and socialize online.
Peanut App
Series A in 2020
Peanut App Limited is a London-based company that has developed a social networking application designed to connect mothers with shared interests and similar-aged children. Launched in 2016, the app facilitates group chats and encourages face-to-face meetings, fostering a supportive community for women at comparable stages in life. Peanut's mission is to create a safe environment where women can build friendships, seek support, and exchange knowledge. The app is available for free on both iOS and Android platforms.
Peanut App
Series A in 2019
Peanut App Limited is a London-based company that has developed a social networking application designed to connect mothers with shared interests and similar-aged children. Launched in 2016, the app facilitates group chats and encourages face-to-face meetings, fostering a supportive community for women at comparable stages in life. Peanut's mission is to create a safe environment where women can build friendships, seek support, and exchange knowledge. The app is available for free on both iOS and Android platforms.
Rec Room Inc., founded in 2016 and based in Seattle, Washington, operates an online platform that serves as a virtual social club where users can create and play games with friends. The company focuses on augmented and virtual reality experiences, facilitating social interactions and multiplayer gameplay. Its application allows users to engage in a virtual environment, enabling them to chat, meet, and socialize with others globally. Rec Room aims to build a vibrant community centered around gaming and social engagement.
The Stack World
Series A in 2019
The Stack World, established in 2017 and headquartered in London, operates a unique platform that connects and empowers beauty professionals. It offers an invitation-only app, BeautyStack, which serves as a networked marketplace for influential specialists in the beauty industry. The platform enables these professionals to publish their content, manage bookings, and showcase their work on social media, enhancing their visibility and helping clients find suitable services. Additionally, The Stack World fosters gender equity by creating supportive peer groups and power networks, particularly for women, to boost their confidence and leadership in the industry.
Discord is a communication platform that offers voice, video, and text services, enabling users to connect with friends and communities. Originally designed for gamers, it has evolved to serve a broader audience, including local clubs, art groups, and study sessions. The platform supports voice-over-internet protocol and texting, ensuring seamless communication across desktops and mobile devices. This versatility allows users to engage in conversations and activities without compromising performance, particularly for gamers who require uninterrupted communication while playing. Discord's focus on community interaction has made it a popular choice for diverse groups seeking to collaborate and socialize online.
Teatime Games
Series A in 2018
Teatime Games Inc., founded in 2017 and based in Reykjavik, Iceland, specializes in designing and developing a social gaming platform that reinvents traditional gaming experiences. The company focuses on creating online mobile games that facilitate user interaction, allowing players to engage with one another through built-in video chat features while playing. This emphasis on social connectivity enhances the gaming experience by promoting face-to-face interactions, making it a unique offering in the gaming industry.
Discord is a communication platform that offers voice, video, and text services, enabling users to connect with friends and communities. Originally designed for gamers, it has evolved to serve a broader audience, including local clubs, art groups, and study sessions. The platform supports voice-over-internet protocol and texting, ensuring seamless communication across desktops and mobile devices. This versatility allows users to engage in conversations and activities without compromising performance, particularly for gamers who require uninterrupted communication while playing. Discord's focus on community interaction has made it a popular choice for diverse groups seeking to collaborate and socialize online.
Teatime Games
Seed Round in 2017
Teatime Games Inc., founded in 2017 and based in Reykjavik, Iceland, specializes in designing and developing a social gaming platform that reinvents traditional gaming experiences. The company focuses on creating online mobile games that facilitate user interaction, allowing players to engage with one another through built-in video chat features while playing. This emphasis on social connectivity enhances the gaming experience by promoting face-to-face interactions, making it a unique offering in the gaming industry.
Qapa is a digital recruitment platform that aims to transform the job search process by connecting job seekers with employers through a social job matching marketplace. The platform utilizes a sophisticated matching algorithm to compare candidates' skills with available job postings, ensuring that individuals are matched with positions that suit their qualifications. Qapa operates on a model that allows employers to post jobs for free, enhancing accessibility for businesses of all sizes. Additionally, the platform offers real-time alerts to candidates when job opportunities that match their profiles become available, simplifying the recruitment process and helping job seekers find positions that align with their career goals.
Discord is a communication platform that offers voice, video, and text services, enabling users to connect with friends and communities. Originally designed for gamers, it has evolved to serve a broader audience, including local clubs, art groups, and study sessions. The platform supports voice-over-internet protocol and texting, ensuring seamless communication across desktops and mobile devices. This versatility allows users to engage in conversations and activities without compromising performance, particularly for gamers who require uninterrupted communication while playing. Discord's focus on community interaction has made it a popular choice for diverse groups seeking to collaborate and socialize online.
Edmodo, Inc. is an online education platform founded in 2008 and headquartered in San Mateo, California. The platform serves as a global education network, enabling educators to connect and collaborate with students, parents, and fellow teachers. With over 77 million users across approximately 550,000 schools worldwide, Edmodo prioritizes the privacy and security of its users while providing a dynamic environment for resource sharing and communication. It offers various tools that support school leaders in analyzing educational data, facilitating professional development, and enhancing learning outcomes through formative assessments. Additionally, Edmodo features capabilities for posting classroom materials, sharing multimedia resources, and accessing academic information such as homework and grades, thereby fostering a collaborative learning community. As of May 2018, Edmodo operates as a subsidiary of Best Assistant Education Online Limited.
Secret offers an online platform that enables users to share their personal secrets with other users anonymously. It owns and operates a mobile application that helps users to share and connect with friends. The company was founded in 2015 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California.
BlaBlaCar
Series C in 2014
BlaBlaCar is a leading long-distance carpooling community that connects drivers with empty seats to passengers seeking affordable travel options. The platform facilitates shared rides, allowing members to reduce transportation costs and minimize their environmental impact. Users can create detailed profiles and specify their preferred level of conversation during the journey, which fosters a secure and trust-based community. Operating in 22 countries, including various regions in Europe, Russia, Turkey, Mexico, Brazil, and India, BlaBlaCar offers a user-friendly website and mobile applications that streamline the connection between drivers and passengers. Headquartered in Paris, the company has established a global network that emphasizes community trust and shared travel experiences.
Crowdrise
Series A in 2014
Crowdrise, Inc. operates an online fundraising platform that enables individuals and organizations to raise money for a variety of causes, including medical expenses, personal emergencies, educational needs, and charitable projects. Launched in 2009 and based in Royal Oak, Michigan, Crowdrise provides users with tools to create fundraisers, discover friends, and connect with charities and events. The platform has gained prominence as a leading solution for nonprofits, corporate foundations, and event fundraising, collaborating with well-known partners such as the American Cancer Society, Red Cross, and major events like the New York City Marathon. Crowdrise's integration with GoFundMe enhances its capabilities, allowing users to tap into a vast community of donors. The platform supports a wide range of causes, from animal welfare to social justice, and has facilitated the raising of significant funds for positive social missions. Recognized for its impact, Crowdrise has been acknowledged as one of the best online fundraising websites.
Happylatte
Series A in 2014
Happylatte is a mobile game developer based in Beijing, China, established in 2008. The company specializes in creating multiplayer social mobile games that cater to modern smartphone users. Its notable titles include Days of Crime, High Noon 2, and High Noon, which have achieved significant popularity, resulting in over 10 million downloads and millions of active users each month. Happylatte focuses on blending free-to-play mechanics with engaging social interactions, positioning itself effectively within the competitive mobile gaming market.
SoundCloud
Series D in 2014
SoundCloud, established in 2008 by Alexander Ljung and Eric Wahlforss, is a global social sound platform that enables users to create, share, and discover music. It offers a vast selection of audio content from a diverse creator community, facilitated by an open platform that directly connects creators with their fans worldwide. Users can instantly record, upload, and share sounds, while also accessing detailed statistics and community feedback.
Secret offers an online platform that enables users to share their personal secrets with other users anonymously. It owns and operates a mobile application that helps users to share and connect with friends. The company was founded in 2015 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California.
8tracks
Seed Round in 2012
8tracks, Inc. is an internet radio service and social network that enables users to create and discover playlists containing at least eight tracks. Founded in 2006 and headquartered in San Francisco, with additional offices in New York and Los Angeles, 8tracks allows members to upload songs from their personal collections to craft virtual mixtapes. This platform serves as a social alternative to traditional radio services, offering listeners the ability to tune into curated playlists that reflect the tastes and expertise of other music enthusiasts. Users can explore playlists based on various criteria, including artist, genre, or activity, fostering a community around shared musical interests.
Familiar
Seed Round in 2012
Familiar is a private photo-sharing service that transforms computers into social picture frames, allowing users to display cherished moments from friends and family. By connecting relatives and close friends, Familiar personalizes screensavers with photos that matter most. The platform facilitates direct sharing of images, ensuring that users can easily curate and showcase their favorite memories in a visually engaging manner. This service enhances the experience of sharing family photos, making it simple for users to stay connected through visual storytelling.
Readmill is a Berlin-based social reading platform that offers users the ability to read ebooks, highlight passages, and share these highlights with friends, fostering discussions around the content. Founded and led by CEO Henrik Berggren, Readmill has formed partnerships with several independent bookstores, including Leanpub, Readlists, Free-ebooks.net, Jottify, OR Books, Publit, and Bibliocrunch, enhancing its offerings and reach within the literary community. The platform aims to create a collaborative reading experience that combines individual engagement with social interaction.
Gidsy is a community marketplace that connects individuals with authentic experiences, enabling them to offer and book a wide range of tours, local activities, and workshops. Functioning similarly to a platform for local experiences, Gidsy addresses the need for engaging daytime activities rather than focusing solely on accommodations. As of January 2012, the website features curated listings, known as 'city pages,' for major cities including New York, San Francisco, London, Berlin, and Amsterdam. Through its online service, Gidsy allows users to discover and share unique experiences, enhancing their travel adventures worldwide.
PhotoBox Group
Private Equity Round in 2011
PhotoBox Group, established in 2000, is a leading European online platform for digital photo printing and personalised photo gifts. With over 30 million members, it specialises in transforming digital photographs into tangible keepsakes, offering a wide range of products including photo books, calendars, phone cases, and other related items. The company operates primarily in the United Kingdom, enabling customers to share memories and celebrate special moments by personalising their digital photos through its user-friendly platform or mobile app.
OpenBuildings
Series A in 2011
OpenBuildings, Inc. operates an online visual directory that features buildings and conceptual architecture from around the world. Founded in 2010 and based in Sofia, Bulgaria, the company facilitates the discovery of architecture-related professionals, including architects, interior designers, contractors, and engineers. Its platform allows users to upload, showcase, and discuss their building projects while collaboratively archiving the global built environment. OpenBuildings serves as an accessible resource for sharing details about historical, contemporary, and conceptual architecture, fostering a community-driven approach to architectural exploration and collaboration.
SoundCloud
Series B in 2011
SoundCloud, established in 2008 by Alexander Ljung and Eric Wahlforss, is a global social sound platform that enables users to create, share, and discover music. It offers a vast selection of audio content from a diverse creator community, facilitated by an open platform that directly connects creators with their fans worldwide. Users can instantly record, upload, and share sounds, while also accessing detailed statistics and community feedback.
The Gifts Project
Seed Round in 2010
The Gifts Project is a social ecommerce platform focused on group gifting, designed to enhance the shopping experience for online retailers, marketplaces, and gift stores. This white label solution integrates a social group gifting platform directly into ecommerce websites, allowing customers to share special occasions with their social networks. By enabling friends to contribute towards each other's gifts during the checkout process, The Gifts Project facilitates a collaborative and engaging shopping experience. The company is a product of Appchee Applications Ltd., an Israeli startup, and is supported by notable investors, including Eyal Gura, Dr. Yossi Vardi, Gemini Israel Funds, and Index Ventures.
TweetDeck
Series B in 2010
TweetDeck is a Twitter client designed for desktop, web, and mobile devices, featuring a unique columned user interface that allows users to manage and monitor Twitter feeds efficiently. Originally developed as an Adobe AIR application, TweetDeck enables users to organize their main feed into topic or group-specific columns, offering a broader overview of tweets in real-time. The application integrates various social media services, including Twitter and Facebook, to enhance user experience. In 2011, TweetDeck was acquired by Twitter, which subsequently rebuilt the application using HTML5 technology, further improving its functionality and accessibility.
be2 S.à.r.l. operates an online matchmaking platform that connects individuals seeking relationships, based on the results of a scientific personality test. Founded in 2004, the company initially launched its services in Germany and has since expanded to 37 countries across six continents, making it one of the largest online matchmaking services in Europe. The platform features an extensive database that captures user preferences and personal information to facilitate meaningful connections. Headquartered in Luxembourg, be2 employs a diverse team of 170 professionals from 43 nationalities, leveraging their collective experience in the online industry and start-up growth to enhance the user experience.
WooMe brings the speed dating craze online and extends it to let users meet new people live in fast, fun and free speed sessions. There are no long forms or lengthy profile descriptions, simply find a session that interests you and meet 5 people in 5 minutes. Or, create your own sessions based on your interests, such as "TechCrunch Readers in San Fran." Invite friends or strangers to play with you and immediately decide if you are woo'd by someone. WooMe's in-browser video and voice capability delivers a live interactive experience where users play for fun, to hook up, or just meet new people around shared interests. There are no tedious profiles and no software to download. The company site has, however, been called out by TechCrunch writer Robin Wauters over alleged dubious practices. Backed by Niklas Zennstrom's (Skype Founder) Atomico Investments, the original investors in Skype (Mangrove Capital), and Klaus Hommels (Europe's Investor of the Year, 2006), WooMe is catapulting the $1 billion+ speed dating market into the online world. With WooMe, meeting people online is transformed into a live interactive experience that makes sifting through contrived profiles a thing of the past. Founded in 2006, WooMe's management team has experience in bringing innovative web applications to market for companies including: AltaVista, CMGI, BT, Accenture, Qwest, Shopzilla, Trilogy. Stephen Stokols, Co-Founder/CEO, successfully sold an internet start-up and went on to become BT's youngest VP, growing their eCommerce revenues over 300% to over $1bn in his first 12 months. George Berkowski, Co-Founder/Product Director, brings extensive technical and marketing experience in the online space and in outer space (he played a role in sending the first tourist to the Space Station).
PhotoBox Group
Series B in 2007
PhotoBox Group, established in 2000, is a leading European online platform for digital photo printing and personalised photo gifts. With over 30 million members, it specialises in transforming digital photographs into tangible keepsakes, offering a wide range of products including photo books, calendars, phone cases, and other related items. The company operates primarily in the United Kingdom, enabling customers to share memories and celebrate special moments by personalising their digital photos through its user-friendly platform or mobile app.
Frengo is a community where people share buzz - a stream of opinions, updates, questions, predictions and games. The service allows users to follow buzz on their mobile phone or on the website. In March of 2008, Frengo launched an Open Social Mobile Toolkit that allowed developers to launch mobile applications across Facebook MySpace, Bebo, Hi5 and others.
Netlog, established by Massive Media NV in Ghent, Belgium, is a European social networking platform. It enables users to connect with friends, family, and new acquaintances, offering features like personal web page creation, messaging, gaming, video sharing, and blogging. Available in 34 languages, Netlog has amassed over 80 million members across Europe.
Frengo is a community where people share buzz - a stream of opinions, updates, questions, predictions and games. The service allows users to follow buzz on their mobile phone or on the website. In March of 2008, Frengo launched an Open Social Mobile Toolkit that allowed developers to launch mobile applications across Facebook MySpace, Bebo, Hi5 and others.
Stardoll AB, established in 2002 and headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, operates an online community platform primarily for teenage girls and tweens. The company enables users to create and customize avatars, engage in social interactions, express creativity through fashion and design, and shop for virtual and real-world products. Stardoll's offerings include a wide range of fashion, décor, and beauty items, catering to a global audience aged 9-17.
Last.fm is a social networking platform focused on music recommendation services. It distinguishes itself by using user data, submitted through various devices and media players, to curate personalized recommendations and internet radio stations, rather than relying solely on musical attributes like some competitors. The platform features artist profiles, discographies, community forums, and event listings, fostering a vibrant community of music enthusiasts. An extensive API allows numerous applications and services, including popular platforms, to utilize Last.fm's user data for enhanced functionality. This has led to a dynamic ecosystem where developers can create innovative music-related services, connecting users’ playlists and favorite tracks with various social networks.
AllPeers is an open-source software extension for the Mozilla Firefox browser that allows users to share files, folders, web page images, and links from right within their Firefox browsers using P2P (peer-to-peer) technology. The AllPeers Navigator enables users to maintain contacts, chat, and share items with the people on their lists. Users can include a subject line and a text message when sharing items. When other users share items with them, a notification appears in the bottom right hand corner of their browser window. The ""add a contact"" button lets users import contacts from Gmail, Hotmail, Outlook, and more. Files, folders, and images that users wish to share can be dragged and dropped into the Share window. Links to web pages can be shared by dragging and dropping the page's browser tab into the Share window. Download location and bandwidth speed can be set using the toolbar's Preferences button. AllPeers was launched by Cedric Maloux and Matthew Gertner and is operated from Oxford, United Kingdom.
Stardoll AB, established in 2002 and headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, operates an online community platform primarily for teenage girls and tweens. The company enables users to create and customize avatars, engage in social interactions, express creativity through fashion and design, and shop for virtual and real-world products. Stardoll's offerings include a wide range of fashion, décor, and beauty items, catering to a global audience aged 9-17.
PhotoBox Group
Series A in 2005
PhotoBox Group, established in 2000, is a leading European online platform for digital photo printing and personalised photo gifts. With over 30 million members, it specialises in transforming digital photographs into tangible keepsakes, offering a wide range of products including photo books, calendars, phone cases, and other related items. The company operates primarily in the United Kingdom, enabling customers to share memories and celebrate special moments by personalising their digital photos through its user-friendly platform or mobile app.
Webfair, founded 1997 in Munich, is a leading European software solution provider for interactive Business Communities. webfair's Community Engine™ 4.0 offers a modular internet based software that enables the creation of effective information- and communication networks.