Prime Highlights
- Yope raised $12.3 million in a funding round led by Northzone.
- The platform focuses on private, algorithm-free social networking.
Key Facts
- Yope has nearly 15 million registered users.
- Total funding has reached $20 million.
Background
Yope, a private social networking startup, has raised $12.3 million in a funding round led by Northzone to expand its platform, which focuses on small private communities instead of public feeds, algorithms and advertising.
The round also included Inovo, Redseed and Geek Ventures, bringing the company’s total funding to $20 million. The new investment is going to help them in the development of products, expanding the team and opening a new office in the United States.
Unlike traditional social media platforms, Yope keeps user accounts private by default and does not use an algorithm-driven feed. The platform encourages friends and families to share photos, videos and messages within small groups. It also plans to introduce AI-powered mini-games and tools that help users organise real-world activities.
Founder and Chief Executive Officer Bahram Ismailau said the company identified growing demand for a more private social experience after studying how young people communicate online. He said many users prefer sharing content with close friends rather than posting publicly, creating an opportunity for a different type of social platform.
Yope currently has nearly 15 million registered users, who exchange between 10 million and 20 million pieces of content every week. According to the company, more than half of its users open the app at least five days a week, while around one-fifth have invited older family members to join.
The company plans to build a subscription-based premium service instead of relying on advertising. It said artificial intelligence will be used to improve user interaction and experiences rather than generate social media content, supporting its goal of creating a more personal and private online environment.