Gather Presence

Gather Town's journey began in May 2020, born out of a desire to foster more human-centric interactions in the burgeoning world of remote work and online gatherings. The founders, Phillip Wang, Kumail Jaffer, Alex Chen, and Nate Foss, envisioned a platform that could transcend the limitations of traditional video conferencing. They sought to create virtual spaces where spontaneity, natural collaboration, and a sense of presence could thrive, much like in a physical environment. The initial spark for Gather was to address the challenge of maintaining close relationships across distances, a concern that became even more pronounced with the global shift towards remote work. The team experimented extensively, even considering radical ideas like encouraging people to live in the same neighborhood, before landing on the concept of a spatial video chat platform.

The platform's distinctive 2D, pixel-art aesthetic was a deliberate choice, aiming for accessibility and a lower barrier to entry compared to more complex 3D or VR environments. This approach allowed users to quickly and easily create and customize their own virtual worlds, from offices and classrooms to conference halls and social event spaces. Gather's core innovation lies in its spatial audio and video, where users interact by moving their avatars closer to others, mimicking real-life encounters. This design fosters serendipitous conversations and a more organic flow of communication, a stark contrast to the scheduled and often rigid nature of conventional video calls. Since its launch, Gather has attracted millions of users and significant investment, including a $50 million Series B funding round. The company's mission is to build a virtual layer over the physical world, a 'Metaverse' that creates opportunity and connection for everyone, regardless of their physical location. They are focused on making this Metaverse open, accessible, and a platform where users can work, socialize, and learn in more engaging and meaningful ways.