Gather HQ, a virtual office platform, recently raised $26 million in a Series A funding round led by Sequoia Capital, with participation from existing investor Mascarenhas, as well as new investors including Designer Fund and XYZ myvuhub Venture Capital. The funding will be used to further develop the platform and expand the company’s team and customer base.
The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the way we work, with many companies shifting to remote work or a hybrid model. This has led to a surge in demand for virtual office platforms, which allow employees to collaborate and communicate in a virtual environment. Gather HQ is one such platform, offering a customizable 3D virtual space where users can interact with each other and with digital objects.
The platform is designed to mimic the masstamilan experience of working in an office, with different rooms for meetings, socializing, and working. Users can customize their avatars and move around the virtual space to interact with colleagues. The platform also integrates with a range of popular tools such as Google Docs, Zoom, and Slack, making it easy to collaborate and communicate.
Gather HQ was founded in 2018 by CEO and co-founder teachertn Nick Gauthier and CTO and co-founder Matt Basta. The platform has already gained a loyal following, with clients including Microsoft, Shopify, and Hubspot.
In a blog post announcing the funding round, pagalsongs Gauthier said: “We founded Gather HQ with a simple mission: to make remote work feel more like working together in person. With this funding, we’re excited to double down on that mission and build the future of work.”
The funding round was led by yareel Sequoia Capital, one of the world’s leading venture capital firms, known for backing companies such as Google, Apple, and Airbnb. In a statement, Sequoia Capital partner Pat Grady said: “Gather HQ is creating a new category of work collaboration that combines the best of virtual and physical workspaces. We’re excited to partner with Nick, Matt, and the Gather team as they continue to reimagine the future of work.”
Mascarenhas, the early-stage investment firm that led Gather HQ’s seed funding round, also participated in the Series A round. Speaking about the investment, Roberto Bonanzinga, partner at Mascarenhas, said: “We’re proud to continue supporting Gather HQ as they lead the charge in reimagining the virtual office experience. The team has built an incredible product that is helping companies around the world work better together.”
The funding round comes at a time when remote work is becoming increasingly popular. A recent survey by FlexJobs found that 65% of employees want to continue working remotely post-pandemic, and 58% said they would look for a new job if their employer did not offer remote work options. This highlights the need for virtual office platforms like Gather HQ, which can help companies attract and retain talent by providing a flexible and engaging work environment.
The funding will be used to further develop the platform and expand the company’s team and customer base. Gauthier said: “With this funding, we’ll be able to accelerate our product roadmap, hire top talent, and bring Gather to even more teams around the world. We’re excited to continue building a platform that makes remote work feel more connected and collaborative.”
The virtual office space is a crowded market, with a range of players including Spatial, Remo, and Sococo. However, Gather HQ’s customizable 3D environment and seamless integration with popular tools sets it apart from the competition.
In a recent interview with TechCrunch, Gauthier said: “We believe that we’re building something fundamentally different from the rest of the market. We’re not just a video conferencing tool or a document-sharing tool. We’re creating a space where people can come
