What is Whisper?
Whisper is a free mobile application available on iOS and Android that facilitates anonymous sharing of secrets and enables users to connect through shared experiences within their vicinity. Launched in the summer of 2012 in Los Angeles, CA, Whisper experienced rapid growth, particularly within college communities. The platform has garnered attention from major publications such as Forbes, USA Today, and the Washington Post, attesting to its significant user engagement, with millions of users and over 2.5 billion monthly page views, establishing it as a notable player in the social media landscape.
How much funding has Whisper raised?
Whisper has raised a total of $60M across 3 funding rounds:
Series A
$3M
Series B
$21M
Series C
$36M
Series A (2013): $3M with participation from Trinity Ventures and Lightspeed Venture Partners
Series B (2013): $21M led by Trinity Ventures, Steamboat Ventures, and Lightspeed Venture Partners
Series C (2014): $36M supported by Tencent, Inc., Thrive Capital, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Steamboat Ventures, and Shasta Ventures
Key Investors in Whisper
Tencent, Inc.
Tencent Holdings Limited provides internet and mobile services, and online advertising services internationally. The company offers online and mobile games, applications across various internet and mobile platforms, instant messaging services, online literature services, wireless internet value added services, and interactive entertainment services. Tencent Holdings Limited was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Shenzhen, China.
Thrive Capital
Thrive Capital is an investment venture capital company that operates out of New York. Thrive Capital primarily deals in internet and software investments.
Lightspeed Venture Partners
Lightspeed Venture Partners (lsvp.com) is a global multistage venture capital firm that raises dedicated funds and invests in early and growthstage technology companies across sectors such as enterprise software, consumer, fintech, and infrastructure, partnering with founders from seed through IPO/M&A.
What's next for Whisper?
The substantial enterprise-level funding and recent strategic investment indicate that Whisper is poised for significant scaling and feature enhancement. This capital infusion will likely be directed towards expanding its user base, refining its anonymous communication features, and potentially exploring new monetization strategies. The company's trajectory suggests a focus on solidifying its position in the competitive social media market, leveraging its unique value proposition of anonymous, experience-based connections to drive further user acquisition and retention.
See full Whisper company page
