Post-COVID, video communication tools have quickly emerged as a crucial platform for many communication and collaboration strategies among various companies across the world. The global video conferencing market has surged new heights, we couldn’t even imagine.
According to Fortune Business Insights, the global video conferencing market is projected to reach $6.37 billion in 2026 at an annual growth rate of 9.8%. As the market expands, consumers are demanding smarter and more sophisticated visuals.
In this regard, Berlin-based Wonder is a virtual space where people can meet and talk, making large online gatherings fun, interactive, and sociable.
Raised £8.2 million funding
Recently, the company raised $11 million (approx £8.2 million) seed funding led by EQT Ventures, with participation from existing investor BlueYard Capital. The new funding will be used to refine Wonder’s product development, expand its team, and grow its customer base.
Natural and intuitive interactions
Founded in April 2020 by Stephane Roux (co-founder), Leonard Witteler (co-founder), and Pascal Steck (co-founder), Wonder is focused on natural and intuitive interactions, mirroring the authentic dynamics of group gatherings. Users navigate a 2D space with a bubble that shows their photo and can join group conversations and broadcasts.
Guests can see who is speaking to whom, moving their avatars around with their mouse. To join a conversation, they move closer; to leave it, they move away.
30% organic growth
Right now, the German video communication platform has over 200,000 monthly users, a 30% week-over-week organic growth in active users. Having spent no money on marketing, this growth is purely by word of mouth within its community, claims the company.
The company’s client ranges from individuals and corporate usage — such as NASA, Deloitte, and SAP — to universities and research groups, including Harvard.
Stephane Roux, the co-founder of Wonder, commented: “In the real world, people chat group-to-group and that’s where you build relationships. A surprise encounter, bumping into someone you didn’t expect to see – those are the things that people remember. The interaction principle of virtual communication doesn’t allow for that, which is what we’re seeking to change with Wonder. By giving people agency over their own experience — they can join or leave a conversation group whenever they please — the whole experience is driven by the participation of each attendee. We’re thrilled to have Jenny and EQT Ventures join us for the next stage of our journey, as we look to continue our growth and revolutionise how communities interact with each other.”
Jenny Dreier, the investor at EQT Ventures Berlin, added: “Throughout Covid-19, the real-time video has become the default for both private and professional interactions, and hybrid working is here to stay. No other video tools come anywhere near as close to replicating real-life interactions as Wonder, so the product has explosive potential, already foreshadowed with the platform’s stellar organic growth. It’s incredibly exciting to be working with the team and to be part of the journey; I can’t wait to be a part of their next chapter”.
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