Gatheround

High-Level Overview

Gatheround is a technology company that builds an interactive video platform for high-impact virtual meetings, team bonding, and community engagement, targeting people-focused organizations like Calendly, Gusto, and Google.[1][2][6] It solves the problem of awkward, low-engagement virtual interactions by offering features such as seamless presentation modes, easy Q&As with upvoting, polls, quizzes, photo booths, and breakout rooms, achieving over 80% verbal participation—2.5x higher than standard video tools.[2][6] Formerly known as Icebreaker and founded in 2018 in New York, Gatheround raised $3.5M in seed funding but was acquired by Donut, an employee experience platform, to expand into dynamic live events within hybrid work environments.[1][2]

Origin Story

Gatheround was founded in 2018 by a team of social-change leaders: Lisa Conn (CEO, from Change.org and Obama for America), along with co-founders experienced in activism, entrepreneurship (Hustle), community organizing, MIT Media Lab, and Facebook.[1][3] The idea emerged from recognizing how the internet's feeds and standard video calls fail to replicate in-person togetherness, leaving people drained rather than energized; their mission became strengthening communities online with genuine connection.[3][6] Early traction built through hundreds of thousands of sessions for major companies, evolving from Icebreaker to a structured platform for meetings, workshops, and learning, culminating in the Donut acquisition where Conn transitioned to an advisory role.[1][2]

Core Differentiators

• Interactive Features for Engagement: Agenda builder, pre-built content library, polls, quizzes, flash cards, reflections, photo booths, and breakout rooms drive 80%+ participation, far exceeding typical video platforms.[2][6]
• Seamless Video Experience: Presentation modes with picture-in-picture, moderated Q&As, recording, and YouTube integration keep focus without multitasking, addressing the $25K per employee annual cost of poor meetings.[1][6]
• Human-Centric Design: Emphasizes inclusivity, thoughtfulness, and real conversations for hybrid teams, fostering work friendships that boost engagement 7x, integrated into workflows like Slack via Donut.[2][6]
• Proven Outcomes: Used by high-profile firms for all-hands, learning, and bonding; post-acquisition, enhances Donut's async-to-live spectrum for employee programs.[2][5]

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

Gatheround rides the hybrid work trend, where 62% of managers note meetings fail at connection amid persistent remote elements post-pandemic.[2][6] Timing aligns with evolving employee experience needs—dynamic tools blending async (e.g., Slack) and live interactions—countering multitasking (75% of employees) and low-impact gatherings.[2][6] Market forces like distributed teams and retention demands favor it, influencing the ecosystem by raising virtual event standards; its Donut integration amplifies reach in EX platforms, enabling outcomes-driven sessions for scaled hybrid adoption.[2]

Quick Take & Future Outlook

Post-acquisition, Gatheround will deepen integration into Donut's roadmap, expanding live features for hybrid programs and serving more enterprises with boosted participation metrics.[2] Trends like AI-enhanced agendas and persistent virtual spaces will shape it, evolving influence toward comprehensive EX suites that blend async, live, and in-person. As hybrid norms solidify, expect Gatheround to redefine "togetherness online," turning draining calls into energizing hubs that drive retention and productivity.[2][3]