To the Meetup community,
Today we’re announcing that Meetup has divested from WeWork and has been acquired by an investment group formed for the express purpose of acquiring Meetup. Our new partners believe in our mission, in our organizers, in the power of real human connections (in-person and online when necessary), and they’re investing in Meetup’s future success.
Meetup has been helping people create communities for almost two decades and, looking at the world today, we know how important it is to continue our mission. In response to the coronavirus, organizers and members have risen to the occasion and are keeping their communities connected online. Thank you for keeping your groups connected at a time when human connection is needed the most. The entire community has demonstrated the true spirit of Meetup, which is shared by our new investors.
With you by our side, we’ll connect more people than ever before and grow Meetup to its fullest potential. Here are three things I want to share with all of you as partners in Meetup’s success.
Our time with WeWork and our future
Meetup was acquired by WeWork in November of 2017 and I joined as CEO, succeeding Meetup’s founder Scott Heiferman, in October of 2018. During Meetup’s time with WeWork, we made investments in our business and our team and never wavered in our dedication to supporting real human connections.
In 2019 alone, there were over 30 million hours of human connections on Meetup. That’s an average of 15,000 events per day. Those events took place in 193 countries, in over 2,200 cities, and were hosted by over 30,000 organizers. That’s the impact you make in the world, and it’s the impact we’re investing in.
In 2020, we’re making a new kind of impact with organizers hosting online events when people can’t get together in person. Meetup is in a perfect position to do what we do best: connecting passionate people from around the world. We’re grateful for our new partners as they help us continue our mission. You can read the acquisition press release here.
Our continued commitment to organizers and members
Meetup was founded in 2002, before the rise of social networking and before the loneliness crisis that came with it had been fully realized. The Meetup community has been behind us through it all. Through website rebuilds, the launch of our app, new logos, and rebrandings.
What’s remained consistent over the past 18 years is your dedication to building communities and our belief that your privacy and trust is of the utmost importance. We don’t use data to target you with third-party advertising, and if we come across any bad actors we take steps to ensure they’re removed.
Whenever I speak with organizers and members they’re delighted when I tell them that I work for Meetup. They often share stories about how Meetup changed their life, or their friend’s life, or their child’s life. We’re committed to making sure those experiences keep happening and happen more often. I can’t wait to hear about them.
The impact of Meetup Pro
I’m so proud to write about the impact of Meetup Pro, Pro organizers, and our more than 1,500 clients. If you don’t know about Meetup Pro, it’s how some of the most recognizable brands and entrepreneurs invest in building local communities and host events around the world.
In 2020, we’ve seen over 50 percent growth in our Pro business. That means that companies and small businesses are recognizing the power of and investing in developing communities. Not with traditional advertising, but by bringing people together.
No matter how your Pro network got started or how big it’s gotten, I want to extend a thank you to all of our Meetup Pro small business and enterprise clients. Whether you’re running a network of groups, sponsoring groups, or helping organizers pay for their subscriptions, your investment in human connections is felt by organizers and the communities they serve.
On behalf of the Meetup team, we’re proud to be writing the next chapter of Meetup with you. Thank you again for all of your continued support.
David
Meetup CEO
Last modified on June 23, 2021
