Consumer/Analysis/ Clubhouse for “X” Audio chatroom Clubhouse is now valued at $100m after raising a $10m round from Andreessen Horowitz — and people are already plotting copycats. But for what? By Michael Stothard 17 May 2020 Clubhouse founder Paul Davison. Image Credit: JD Lasica Clubhouse founder Paul Davison. Image Credit: JD Lasica \Consumer Can BeReal build on its buzz in 2023? By Chris O’Brien 8 February 2023 Consumer/Analysis/ Clubhouse for “X” Audio chatroom Clubhouse is now valued at $100m after raising a $10m round from Andreessen Horowitz — and people are already plotting copycats. But for what? By Michael Stothard 17 May 2020 Clubhouse, an audio-based social network with less than 5,000 beta test users, has closed an eyebrow-raising $10m round at a $100m valuation from famed US venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, according to multiple reports over the weekend. Even by US standards, the valuation is lofty for such an early-stage company. But the app, which allows users to join open virtual rooms and listen to others have free-flowing conversations — you raise your hand to be invited to speak — has excited VCs and early users. It has also prompted speculation about a new wave of startups which will spring up pitching “Clubhouse for X”, creating an audio social network based around a specific topic or interest-group. Here are some of the best that have been floating around. Will European founders be the ones to make them? Clubhouse for learning languages. Login and join ‘French’ or ‘Japanese’ or whichever language you are learning, speak with others better than you and immerse yourself. Clubhouse for gamers. Clubhouse for auctions — modern-day eBay. Clubhouse for narrating and talking about live events, maybe sports. Clubhouse for book clubs. Clubhouse for women / men’s circles etc… Clubhouse for business-to-business (B2B) sales. Dashboard shows which products are pitching and those interested can enter chatroom for Q&A / to learn more about product. Clubhouse for startup pitching. Clubhouse for Slack. Typing /ch in Slack, will open a Clubhouse session for a voice discussion among all Slack #channel members. Moving temporarily into vocal communication. Clubhouse for conferences, allowing events like TED Global or Slush to host both speeches and fireside chats online. Clubhouse for podcast hosts post-show/pre-show banter that fans can listen in on. Clearly, the founders of Clubhouse — Paul Davison and Rohan Seth — are hoping that the Clubhouse of X will just end up being… Clubhouse. The app will likely end up with rooms for particular topics (running, cooking, golf, etc.), a bit like audio subreddits. The people at House Party, Discord and High Fidelity — three apps in the audio-social sector — also might have something to say about who is going to end up dominating this area. But it’s still an area that has some traction (or at least product/VC fit) and the “Clubhouse for X” is likely going to be seen in pitch decks for months and years to come. For other Clubhouse for X ideas, put them in the comments! Related Articles The new (virtual) events industry By Amy Lewin Click here to read more 25 UK venture capital funds founders should know By Kim Darrah Click here to read more Europe’s top Series A investors By Amy Lewin Click here to read more Most Read 1 \Startup Life Tech Nation shutting down as UK government controversially pulls key funding 2 \Healthtech Spotify founder Daniel Ek officially launches new startup — and this time, he’s taking on healthcare 3 \Startup Life Series A funding for startups: What VCs want to see from founders in 2023 4 \Sustainability Planet A closes €160m for science-based climate investing 5 \Startup Life Five women and multicultural founders to watch in 2023