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§ Private Profile · New York City, NY, USA
Meetup is a technology company.
Meetup has raised $18.0M across 3 funding rounds.
Key people at Meetup.
Meetup has raised $18.0M in total across 3 funding rounds.
Meetup provides a social media platform and networking service enabling individuals to organize and participate in in-person and virtual activities. The platform connects people based on shared interests, hobbies, and professions, facilitating the formation of local groups for exploring communities, professional networking, and creative collaboration. It serves as a digital bridge to foster real-world engagements.
Founded in June 2002 by Scott Heiferman and four co-founders, Meetup emerged from Heiferman's observation of renewed community spirit among his New York City neighbors after the September 11 attacks. This insight into the human need for local connection inspired the creation of a digital platform to encourage authentic real-world interactions, counteracting social isolation.
The platform serves individuals seeking new friendships, skills, support, and shared passions, fostering personal growth through authentic human connections. Meetup's vision is to leverage technology to build and sustain vibrant local communities, moving users from online interaction to meaningful in-person experiences and achieving collective goals.
Meetup is a technology company that operates an online platform for discovering and organizing local and virtual communities around shared interests, enabling users to meet new people, learn, find support, and build connections.[2][3][5] It serves individuals seeking offline and online gatherings for hobbies, careers, politics, health, and more, solving the problem of loneliness and isolation by bridging digital discovery with real-world interactions—over 55 million members have joined groups worldwide, hosting thousands of events daily in 190+ countries.[2][4][5] Growth has been steady, from 1 million members in under two years post-launch to surpassing 50 million, with innovations like online events, a dedicated organizers app, and acquisitions enhancing its ecosystem; revenue stands at around $168 million, following $20.3 million in funding before its 2017 acquisition by WeWork for $200 million.[1][2][5]
Meetup's idea emerged from the ashes of 9/11, when founder Scott Heiferman, living in downtown New York City, witnessed neighbors uniting for support and realized technology could replicate such connections beyond crises.[1][4] Heiferman, alongside co-founders Matt Meeker, Peter Kamali, and others, began design and development in December 2001, secured the meetup.com domain in March 2002, and officially launched on June 14, 2002—incorporating in January 2003.[1][2][3] Early traction exploded via Howard Dean's 2004 presidential campaign, which leveraged Meetup for grassroots organizing, revolutionizing political mobilization and propelling the platform to 1 million members quickly.[2] Heiferman's vision of logging off the internet to connect in real life humanized the startup, evolving from a post-tragedy response into a global social enterprise headquartered in NYC.[1][4]
Meetup rides the wave of community-building in a fragmented, post-pandemic world, where hybrid events blend digital convenience with human connection amid rising loneliness epidemics.[2][4] Its timing was prescient: born pre-smartphone in 2002, it pioneered social networking for real-life meetups, influencing politics (e.g., Dean's campaign) and predating platforms like Facebook while complementing them by driving offline action.[1][2] Market forces like remote work, urban isolation, and demand for niche belonging favor its model, as seen in expansions to virtual events and global reach; it shapes the ecosystem by empowering grassroots movements, skill-sharing, and support networks, proving tech's role in combating social fragmentation.[3][4]
Meetup's post-WeWork era under leaders like CEO David Siegel positions it for hybrid community dominance, expanding online tools and AI-driven matching to sustain growth beyond 55 million users. Trends like persistent loneliness, Web3 decentralization, and experiential economies will amplify its relevance, potentially evolving into a full-spectrum belonging platform influencing work, activism, and wellness. As the original bridge from screens to streets, Meetup remains essential for humanizing tech in an increasingly connected-yet-alone world.[2][4]
Meetup has raised $18.0M in total across 3 funding rounds.
Meetup's investors include Omidyar Ventures, Union Square Ventures.
Key people at Meetup.
Meetup has raised $18.0M across 3 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $8.0M Series D in July 2008.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 1, 2008 | $8M Series D | — | Omidyar Ventures, Union Square Ventures | Announced |
| Mar 1, 2006 | $5M Series C | — | Omidyar Ventures | Announced |
| Oct 1, 2003 | $5M Series B | — | Omidyar Ventures | Announced |
