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They're taking VC. The strat here is probably to get as many users onboarded as possible ("of course I'll support them directly on Clubhouse, it's the cheapest

They're taking VC. The strat here is probably to get as many users onboarded as possible ("of course I'll support them directly on Clubhouse, it's the cheapest way to do it!") and then at some point once people have grown accustomed to supporting creators through clubhouse they'll start taking a cut.

paxys 6y ago
You would think they need to grow user count as quickly as possible (like all other VC funded startups), but the fact that they don't have a web app, don't have an Android app and don't have open signups on iOS leaves me very confused about their entire strategy. Is Clubhouse just being pushed by VCs and other tech celebrities as their personal soapbox, or does it have potential to be something beyond that?
- ZephyrBlu 6y ago
  From my perspective it started getting pushed as soon as they raised from Andreesen at a $100M valuation. It seems like a massive moonshot fueled by hype and VC money. No clue what the big vision is though.
  - ryanSrich 6y ago
    > $100M valuation For others reading, they recently raised from a16z at a $1 _billion_ dollar valuation. [1] That comes less than a year after they raised $10m at a $100m valuation from a16z. [2] 1. https://pitchbook.com/newsletter/clubhouse-picks-up-new-funding-at-1b-valuation https://pitchbook.com/newsletter/clubhouse-picks-up-new-fund... 2. https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexkonrad/2020/05/15/andreessen-horowitz-wins-vc-sweepstakes-to-back-clubhouse-voice-app/?sh=168d89c96f2a https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexkonrad/2020/05/15/andreesse...
- fastball 6y ago
  The "closed beta" is the marketing strat – people getting FOMO because they can't listen to a convo on CH. "Anyone have a CH invite?" was something I was seeing a lot of on Twitter over the past yearish. FOMO is one helluva drug.
  - paxys 6y ago
    Sure, if done well that works great to generate buzz up to a certain point. Right now though I doubt there's anyone left who really wants a Clubhouse invite but can't get one (so the "exclusivity" thing isn't really driving anyone anymore), and the casual passers-by aren't going to bother jumping through hoops and will just move on.
    - dylan604 6y ago
      >"exclusivity" thing isn't really driving anyone anymore unless you don't have an iPhone. you can FOMO until the cows come home if you're an android person.
  - KptMarchewa 6y ago
    Has that thing worked once after Gmail rollout?
    - dylan604 6y ago
      Facebook
      - KptMarchewa 6y ago
        Facebook happened roughly on the same time as Gmail.
- dylan604 6y ago
  Cynical me says they are building up an audience, and then they'll start injecting ads into the streams.

paxys 6y ago

You would think they need to grow user count as quickly as possible (like all other VC funded startups), but the fact that they don't have a web app, don't have an Android app and don't have open signups on iOS leaves me very confused about their entire strategy. Is Clubhouse just being pushed by VCs and other tech celebrities as their personal soapbox, or does it have potential to be something beyond that?

ZephyrBlu 6y ago
From my perspective it started getting pushed as soon as they raised from Andreesen at a $100M valuation. It seems like a massive moonshot fueled by hype and VC money. No clue what the big vision is though.
- ryanSrich 6y ago
  > $100M valuation For others reading, they recently raised from a16z at a $1 _billion_ dollar valuation. [1] That comes less than a year after they raised $10m at a $100m valuation from a16z. [2] 1. https://pitchbook.com/newsletter/clubhouse-picks-up-new-funding-at-1b-valuation https://pitchbook.com/newsletter/clubhouse-picks-up-new-fund... 2. https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexkonrad/2020/05/15/andreessen-horowitz-wins-vc-sweepstakes-to-back-clubhouse-voice-app/?sh=168d89c96f2a https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexkonrad/2020/05/15/andreesse...
fastball 6y ago
The "closed beta" is the marketing strat – people getting FOMO because they can't listen to a convo on CH. "Anyone have a CH invite?" was something I was seeing a lot of on Twitter over the past yearish. FOMO is one helluva drug.
- paxys 6y ago
  Sure, if done well that works great to generate buzz up to a certain point. Right now though I doubt there's anyone left who really wants a Clubhouse invite but can't get one (so the "exclusivity" thing isn't really driving anyone anymore), and the casual passers-by aren't going to bother jumping through hoops and will just move on.
  - dylan604 6y ago
    >"exclusivity" thing isn't really driving anyone anymore unless you don't have an iPhone. you can FOMO until the cows come home if you're an android person.
- KptMarchewa 6y ago
  Has that thing worked once after Gmail rollout?
  - dylan604 6y ago
    Facebook
    - KptMarchewa 6y ago
      Facebook happened roughly on the same time as Gmail.
dylan604 6y ago
Cynical me says they are building up an audience, and then they'll start injecting ads into the streams.