Wakie
Wakie is a mobile social networking app which facilitates voice-based interactions between users who are strangers. It is headquartered in San Francisco.[1]
History
Early history (2011–2014)
Wakie was originally founded in 2011 as Budist by brothers Hrachik and Tatul Ajamian. The original concept focused on transforming the traditional alarm clock into a social experience by allowing users to volunteer to wake others through scheduled phone calls.[2][1][3] It received early seed funding from a group of business angels, including a grant from technology investors Yuri Milner who founded DST Global and an early investor in Facebook, and Pavel Durov who founded Telegram and VK. In 2012, it raised a $2 million seed round from Leta Capital.[4]
Wakie (2014–present)
In 2014, the service was renamed as Wakie and launched mobile apps for Android and iOS.[2][5] By early 2015, the platform had 1.5 million users.[1][6] In the same year, Wakie joined the Y Combinator accelerator program and shifted its focus from a social alarm service to a voice-based social conversation platform.[7]
Following its participation in Y Combinator, Wakie raised additional funding from investors including First Round Capital and SV Angel, bringing total funding to approximately $7 million. Since 2019, the product has been led by Egor Antonikhin. Wakie became profitable in 2020.
App
Wakie connects users for one-on-one or group voice conversations based on personal interests and preferences rather than appearance.[2] While the app uses machine learning algorithms to pair users based on user profiles, interests, and feedback ratings, it still allows users to manually select whom they want to talk to.[8]
Users can post conversation requests on topics such as advice or language practice, which are matched with available participants. All calls are routed through the app to maintain privacy. Users are identified by a nickname and age, and reputation ratings are added over time.[9] Additional features include a public text feed, the ability to follow other users, and themed rooms for group voice discussions. While the platform initially gained attention for its alarm clock feature, its current focus is on general social interaction and peer-to-peer communication.[2]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Wakie's fresh take on wake-up call - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Holland, Jessica. "Wakie app review: more than just a global alarm clock". The National.
- ↑ "New app lets you wake up with a complete stranger". ABC7 San Francisco. December 13, 2014.
- ↑ "Social alarm clock Wakie secured $1 million from Leta Capital and Titanium Investments". East-West Digital News.
- ↑ O'Hear, Steve (December 10, 2014). "Wakie, The Social Alarm Clock That Lets You Wake Up Strangers, Finally Arrives On iOS".
- ↑ "App helps you wake up with a stranger" – via www.bbc.com.
- ↑ "Wakie: A social app for phone calls. Express yourself and make real friends". Y Combinator.
- ↑ O'Hear, Steve (February 23, 2016). "Wakie Pivots To Let You Call A Stranger On Any Subject".
- ↑ https://www.entrepreneur.com/living/this-alarm-clock-app-brings-you-wake-up-calls-from-total/239289
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