# Connecting

Startup profile on Capital Atlas: https://capitalatlas.ai/startups/connecting

- Industry: Internet
- Headquarters: Seoul, South Korea
- Website: www.connectingapp.co.kr
- Total disclosed funding: $20M
- Latest round: Series B (Sep 9, 2021)
- Investors on record: 6

## About

Connecting is a South Korean social conversation platform that fosters safe and engaging interactions, enabling users to connect through real-time voice calls and text chats, thereby alleviating social anxiety.Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, Connecting offers a unique service to facilitate social interactions. The company has completed a total of 4 deals, with its latest funding round being a Series B, where it raised KRW 10 billion on September 9, 2021. The funding was led by HB Investment and IMM Investment, with participation from Hana Ventures, Korea Investment Partners, and Mirae Asset Venture Investment. The CEO of Connecting is Yoonho Yang.Connecting is a social conversation platform designed to facilitate clean and safe interactions among users. With over 2 million accumulated users, the platform allows individuals to engage in real-time conversations with new people through voice calls or text chats, catering to those who seek connection without the burden of social anxiety. The platform uniquely matches users based on their preferences and personality traits, enhancing the likelihood of meaningful interactions. Additionally, users can share their daily experiences and concerns through a feed, promoting engagement even when direct communication is challenging. Currently, Connecting serves a diverse clientele across various geographical markets, focusing primarily on urban areas where the demand for social interaction tools is high.Connecting generates revenue through its direct-to-consumer model, focusing on providing its social conversation services without reliance on traditional retail or wholesale partnerships. The platform operates on a freemium model, where basic features are accessible to all users while premium functionalities are available at a cost. Users have the option to engage in further conversations through additional chat requests with those they enjoyed interacting with, potentially leading to monetized services associated with enhanced communication features. The revenue model emphasizes user subscriptions and in-app transactions that enhance the overall user experience and foster ongoing engagement.In September 2021, Connecting raised KRW 10 billion in Series B funding to improve its platform's service. The company plans to launch group call and topic-specified conversation functions as part of its growth strategy. Additionally, it is looking to expand into new markets, specifically targeting urban regions where social interaction tools are in demand. The funding will be utilized to support these initiatives and enhance user engagement across the platform.

## Funding rounds

- Series B, Sep 9, 2021, $8.6M — Korea Investment Partners, HB Investment, IMM Investment, Mirae Asset Venture Investment, Hana Ventures
- Series B, Aug 13, 2021, $9.1M — Korea Investment Partners, HB Investment, IMM Investment, Mirae Asset Venture Investment
- Series A, May 11, 2020, $2M — Korea Investment Partners, IMM Investment
- Seed, Jun 18, 2019 — Mashup Ventures

## Investors

- Mashup Ventures (https://capitalatlas.ai/funds/mashup-ventures) — Seed
- Korea Investment Partners (https://capitalatlas.ai/funds/korea-investment-partners) — Series A, Series B
- IMM Investment (https://capitalatlas.ai/funds/imm-investment) — Series A, Series B
- HB Investment (https://capitalatlas.ai/funds/hb-investment) — Series B
- Mirae Asset Venture Investment (https://capitalatlas.ai/funds/mirae-asset-venture-investment) — Series B
- Hana Ventures — Series B