Want to communicate with your neighbors about a local event, exchange local advise, or share important safety information? Hoplr, a Ghent-based startup is here to help you in connecting with people who live in your neighborhood through an app.
Recently, Hoplr raised €1.15 million of fresh capital in its second round of funding led by Belfius and Matexi. With this fund, the Belgian startup is planning to accelerate its growth in Belgium and the Netherlands. Additionally, the company will be using this fund to expand the team and invest in product development as well. Till now the company has raised around €1.4 million in two funding rounds.
Launched in 2014 by Arnaud De Groote, Jennick Scheerlinck, and Jonas Heirwegh, Hoplr is a private social network, which is used to organize neighborhood parties, to exchange things, to ask for help, to report road problems and more.
At present, Hoplr is used in more than 120,000 homes approximately in 30 cities and expected to reach 250,000 families by the end of this year. According to Jennick Scheerlinck, there are two – one for the users is free, and the other is paid and made available to local authorities and other public institutions. In this way, and in the absence of advertising, Hoplr generates revenue.
The startup, which is yet to reach its breakeven point has already generated €100,000 turnover so far.
Hoplr acts as a platform to receive feedback and recommendations from neighbors that can increase local conversation. Having said that, it won’t work out unless the people are open to a mutually cooperative and helpful relationship with each other.
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