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Highfive is a technology company.
Highfive developed an integrated video conferencing solution, combining cloud-based software with proprietary in-room hardware. Its core product simplified meeting experiences, offering an intuitive platform for high-quality audio and visual communication. The company focused on delivering reliable, easy-to-use systems, enabling seamless collaboration across diverse corporate environments.
Shan Sinha and Jeremy Roy co-founded Highfive in 2012, identifying widespread frustration with existing conference call technologies. Sinha, having led Google Apps for Business and co-founded Docverse (acquired by Google), brought deep enterprise software expertise. Their insight was the critical need for a video conferencing solution prioritizing user simplicity and robust performance.
Highfive's product served businesses seeking enhanced communication and streamlined collaboration. The company envisioned making productive workplace interactions universally accessible and effortless, eliminating technical hurdles. Highfive strived to foster efficient, connected work environments, advancing how teams communicate daily.
Highfive has raised $274.0M across 7 funding rounds.
Highfive has raised $274.0M in total across 7 funding rounds.
Highfive has raised $274.0M in total across 7 funding rounds.
Highfive's investors include Will Griffith, Amasia, Google Ventures, OMERS Growth Equity, Section 32, T-Mobile Ventures, Work-Bench, Kunihiro Fujinaga, Joe Manuele, Ambridge Capital, Benchmark, Canvas Ventures.
# High-Level Overview
Highfive was an American video conferencing company that combined cloud-based software with proprietary in-room video conferencing hardware.[1] Founded in 2012 by Shan Sinha (a former Google Drive developer) and Jeremy Roy, the company operated from Redwood City, California, with a mission to "make videoconferencing as commonplace as e-mail in business."[1] The company gained recognition as one of Fortune's "10 Best Small Workplaces in Technology" in 2016 and was named one of Fast Company's "World's Most Innovative companies."[1][3]
Highfive addressed a critical market gap by offering a comprehensive conferencing solution designed for business needs. Sinha identified that while videoconferencing demand was surging—with tens of thousands of video calls regularly made at Google—existing market leaders like Skype were not "secure or robust enough for business needs."[1] By 2016, the company had achieved 341% customer growth and surpassed one million call minutes per week from over 1,400 customers, demonstrating strong product-market fit.[1]
# Origin Story
Highfive was founded in 2012 by Shan Sinha and Jeremy Roy, operating in stealth mode under the name Parlay Labs until its public launch in October 2014.[1] Sinha's background as a Google Drive developer gave him unique insight into enterprise videoconferencing demand. The company raised over $45 million in venture capital by March 2015, attracting prominent investors including Google Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz, General Catalyst Partners, and notable figures like Marc Benioff (Salesforce), Drew Houston, and Aaron Levie.[1]
A pivotal moment came in May 2016 when Highfive incorporated Dolby Voice telephone conferencing into its platform, expanding its all-in-one offering.[1] This expansion reflected the company's strategy to build an integrated solution rather than a point product.
# Core Differentiators
# Role in the Broader Tech Landscape
Highfive rode the secular trend toward video-first business communication at a pivotal moment when the workforce was becoming increasingly comfortable with video technologies.[1] The company's timing aligned with the shift toward distributed work and the recognition that videoconferencing would become essential infrastructure rather than a novelty.
By offering an integrated hardware-software solution, Highfive positioned itself in the premium segment of the conferencing market, competing against both specialized software providers and traditional hardware vendors. The company's emphasis on meeting room experiences reflected an understanding that enterprise adoption required seamless, reliable in-room solutions—not just desktop software.
# Quick Take & Future Outlook
Highfive's trajectory was cut short when Dialpad acquired the company in September 2020, integrating its technology into Dialpad Meetings.[1][5] The acquisition reflected broader consolidation in the conferencing market as larger platforms sought to expand their capabilities. Highfive's proprietary hardware and software integration were incorporated into Dialpad's offering, with the original Highfive platform sunsetting in 2022.[5]
The company's legacy demonstrates the viability of premium, integrated conferencing solutions for enterprises, even as the market consolidated around larger players. Highfive's acquisition by Dialpad underscores how successful specialized conferencing companies became acquisition targets for broader communication platforms seeking to enhance their competitive positioning.
Highfive has raised $274.0M across 7 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $170.0M Dialpad - Other Equity in December 2021.