Virtual events have been having a bit of a rough go of things amid the large-scale return to in-person events this year, but many organizers are still relying on digital tools, and recent funding rounds have proven that event tech has staying power beyond the pandemic boom.
Glisser recently announced that it has raised another investment round (but did not disclose the amount), and digital engagement and virtual event platform JUNO, which was founded at the beginning of the pandemic, has now raised another $10 million in funding as part of its Series A round.
This latest round brings the company’s total investment to date to $13.5 million and was led by Insight Partners. JUNO noted that it plans to use the funding to support its mission of building and fostering communities through its robust digital engagement tools and features.
"Digital is what's next for communities. JUNO is one place for all digital engagement — Networking, Community, Events, and Learning," said JUNO Founder and CEO Josh Hotsenpiller in a statement. "The world is well beyond physical limitations in connection and education. Real growth in loyalty and revenues is coming from digital engagement activities and the funding from Insight will allow us to take JUNO to the next level."
Over the past few years, events have been evolving to become always-on communities and that engaging communities year-round has become the focus of many organizations. Event tech companies that are able to continue to adapt and evolve their products accordingly will be in the best position to weather the rapidly changing post-pandemic market.
Walter Scott, former CEO of Teamviewer and several Insight Partners portfolio companies, emphasized the importance of community features moving forward, noting that, “We are just starting to see the possibilities with community-led growth, and I believe JUNO is uniquely positioned to be a leader in this field. Insight Partners understands that optimized community data is fuel for increasing revenues and member loyalty, which makes JUNO such an attractive partner in this space."