Yubo Raises €40M Series C to Expand Gen Z Social Platform Across Europe

By , in France news on November 18, 2020 . Tagged width: fundraising , Series C , social , Social networking , Yubo funding

Latest funding round follows a year of exponential growth for Yubo with an increase of 400% of time spent in live stream, as Yubo has already attracted over 40 million young people worldwide.

Paris-based Yubo announced its Series C round today, with existing investors Idinvest, Iris Capital, Alven, and Sweet Capital leading the investment alongside newcomer Gaia Capital Partners. The round also brings Jerry Murdock, co-founder of Insight Partners (backers of Twitter, Snapchat, and TrueCaller), to Yubo’s board as an independent member.

This latest funding follows Yubo’s impressive fundraising trajectory, having raised over €50 million in less than 12 months. The company previously secured backing from international investors including Village Global, establishing its credentials as a leading European social media platform.

The Series C investment will primarily support product development and reinforce Yubo’s position as the premier social space for Generation Z users seeking authentic online connections.

Exponential Growth Drives International Expansion

Key Market Performance Metrics

Yubo’s growth metrics demonstrate the platform’s strong market traction:

400% increase in live streaming usage over the past year
80% growth in daily active UK users during 2020
Three-fold increase in time spent on live streams
1,200% surge in Latin American users over three months

The platform has achieved significant penetration in key English-speaking markets including the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and its home market of France.

Geographic Expansion Plans

Building on this momentum, Yubo plans aggressive expansion into Asian markets, targeting Southeast Asia, Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea. The company is establishing regional offices to support this growth, with particular focus on strengthening its New York presence to serve its largest user base.

Earlier this year, Yubo opened its first UK office in London, strategically positioning itself to better serve British users who represent the platform’s second-largest market. This expansion reflects the company’s commitment to localised support and regulatory compliance across European markets.

Financial Performance and Workforce Expansion

Following a successful 2019, Yubo expects to close 2020 with €17 million in revenue, effectively doubling its turnover year-on-year. This strong financial performance supports the company’s ambitious hiring plans, with workforce expansion planned to increase tenfold globally.

The hiring surge will particularly focus on safety and moderation teams, reflecting Yubo’s commitment to maintaining the highest safety standards across all markets. This investment in safety infrastructure positions Yubo ahead of regulatory requirements, particularly important for European operations under GDPR and upcoming Digital Services Act provisions.

Product Development and Safety Investments

New Features and Partnerships

The Series C funding will advance Yubo’s live streaming capabilities through several strategic initiatives:

Content Integration: YouTube integration will expand content options, allowing users to share and discover video content within the platform’s social framework.

Gaming Features: New interactive activities and games will diversify user engagement beyond traditional social interactions.

Augmented Reality: Partnership with Snap Inc. brings Camera Kit integration, introducing Snapchat’s AR lenses and camera features to Yubo’s platform.

Personalisation: Advanced recommendation algorithms will customise user experiences based on interests, social interactions, and platform activity.

Enhanced Safety Measures

Safety remains Yubo’s primary investment focus, with funding allocated to:

Age verification systems using advanced technology
Real-time intervention capabilities for content moderation
Regional helplines across all active countries
Multilingual moderation supporting over 36 languages
Educational partnerships with NGOs for user safety awareness

2020 has been a significant year for Yubo, and we are thrilled to be ending the year on such a high. Five years on from the platform’s launch, we are proud to have created a new social space for young people centred around real-time, one-to-few conversations.

commented Sacha Lazimi, CEO and co-founder of Yubo.

What This Means for the European Social Media Market

Yubo’s success represents a significant milestone for European social media startups, demonstrating that homegrown platforms can compete with Silicon Valley giants for Generation Z’s attention. The company’s focus on safety-first design and authentic social connections addresses growing concerns about traditional social media’s impact on young users.

The app has quickly established itself as a leader in the highly competitive US market, as well as in all English-speaking countries. I strongly believe its innovative approach to socialising online will make it the must-have social space of tomorrow.

noted Jerry Murdock

Industry Context

The funding comes at a crucial time for European tech companies, with increased focus on digital sovereignty and user privacy. Yubo’s European heritage, combined with its safety-first approach, positions it well for markets increasingly concerned about data protection and user wellbeing.

We are thrilled to back this unique journey since 2016 and see it become the major independent European consumer social platform. Compared to previous generations’ closed social circles, Yubo breaks physical barriers and opens to its millions of daily active GenZ users a digital exploratory window on the world.

François Meteyer, Partner at Alven, emphasised this positioning

Market Outlook and Competitive Positioning

Yubo’s innovative approach distinguishes it from traditional social media platforms that rely on likes, followers, and performative content. Instead, the platform focuses on genuine connections and real-time interactions, addressing Generation Z’s desire for authentic online experiences.

Alice Albizzati, co-founder of Gaia Capital Partners, highlighted this differentiation: “We have been impressed not only by its strong capital efficiency and significant activity in the US but also by how the company paves the way in terms of user safety and empowerment in the consumer social media space.”

The platform’s success in monetising users whilst maintaining safety standards demonstrates a sustainable business model that could influence the broader social media industry’s approach to young user engagement.

Looking Forward

With this Series C funding secured, Yubo is well-positioned to capitalise on the growing demand for safer, more authentic social media experiences. The company’s European roots, combined with its global ambitions and safety-first philosophy, could establish it as a template for the next generation of social platforms.

This new ambitious round will fuel its growth and success across North America, Europe, Asia and South America and ensure its world-class safety measures remain industry leaders by far.

concluded Gil Doukhan, Principal at Iris Capital

Quick Facts:

Funding Amount: €40 million ($47.5M)
Round Type: Series C
Lead Investors: Idinvest, Iris Capital, Alven, Sweet Capital
Global Users: 40+ million
Founded: 2015
Headquarters: Paris, France
Key Markets: US, UK, Australia, Canada, France