London-based virtual events platform Hopin has launched a mobile app at the Hopin 2021 Kickoff, which, according to the company, is a global gathering for event professionals to illuminate the future of virtual and hybrid events.
The move comes after the company witnessed substantial success due to the coronavirus crisis. “This app will be a critical piece to Hopin’s future hybrid strategy,” wrote Hopin VP of product David Aubespin in a company blog.
David Aubespin was the co-founder of Topi, an event tech company that Hopin acquired for an undisclosed amount in December 2020. Topi’s other co-founder Eric Selin also joined Hopin to lead its development of hybrid and mobile products.
What does Hopin’s new app offer?
Hopin is an 18-month-old startup that is now valued at a whopping $2.1B (approx €1.74B). The new mobile app will serve as a companion to the desktop platform or as a second screen experience for both organisers and attendees. The app will be made available on iOS and Android later this month.
For organisers, the app will offer access to Hopin’s real-time analytics and reports, team communication channels, attendee profiles, audience questions, and more through a mobile platform.
As for attendees, they will also be able to use the app to access Hopin events as they are streamed online. This can be their primary access point, while a second screen will be provided to access other tools while streaming on a desktop, or a way to enhance the live experience for those who attend events in person.
With the app, users can discover new events, join events, one-on-one networking, and engage via chat and polls. Users can also see people who are attending virtually or physically.
Previous funding and developments
Last month, Hopin acquired its competitor StreamYard for $250M (approx €208M) in a cash and stock deal. With the acquisition, the company aims to enable its clients to produce “professional-quality” video streaming experiences. Eventually, it will integrate StreamYard’s tech into its platform; however, for now, StreamYard continues to offer its live streaming studio tools to independent content creators.
In November 2020, the startup raised $125M (approx €106.1M) in its Series B round of funding led by existing investor IVP and new investor Tiger Global. The raised capital enabled Hopin to scale its platform, expand its team, meet soaring demand, bring innovations online, and ultimately, make the virtual event experience as normal as physical events.
With its Series B funding, the company also announced the launch of Hopin Explore. It is a virtual events marketplace where individuals, communities, companies, and friends can discover and explore virtual and hybrid events from anywhere around the world.
Prior to that in June 2020, the company had raised $40M (approx €33.3M) in its Series A round. And, in February 2020, it raised £5M (approx €6M) in Seed round led by Accel, with participation from Northzone, Seedcamp, Web Summit’s Amaranthine Fund, and Slack Fund.
About Hopin
Founded in 2019 by Johnny Boufarhat, Hopin is a live virtual events platform where attendees can learn, interact, and connect with people from anywhere in the world.
The platform allows users to create live online events that are interactive and personal whether they are hosting a live training workshop, bringing a company’s remote team together, or launching a full-scale digital conference.
Hopin’s platform hosts virtual events such as large-scale tech events, major international conferences, and even weddings. Attendees can network one-on-one, break out into group sessions, watch keynote presentations, send chat messages and polls, and explore interactive expo areas.
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