Openvibe’s intelligent app that integrates a number of open social networks together with Bluesky, Mastodon, Nostr, and Threads, simply bought a lift towards its future improvement. The firm on Tuesday introduced that it has obtained outdoors funding of $800,000 in a spherical led by Czech Founders VC, which incorporates backing from WordPress.com and Tumblr mother or father firm, Automattic, in addition to Tensor Ventures.
Czech Founders VC and former CTO of Mews Jan Široky additionally invested individually from his agency.
Launched in 2024, Openvibe initially supported three of the extra outstanding open social networks, all of which function utilizing totally different protocols: Mastodon makes use of ActivityPub, Bluesky runs on AT Protocol, and Nostr powers quite a few third-party apps. Openvibe later added help for Instagram Threads, as that app grew to become additional built-in with ActivityPub and opened itself as much as the developer group.
As CEO Matej Svancer defined on the time, the concept behind his app was to supply customers a extra pleasant and “easy-to-use gateway” to the open social internet. Because of the totally different protocols these networks make the most of, it may be tough for newcomers who find yourself having to change apps or restrict their engagement to simply their most popular platform.
But Openvibe doesn’t simply let individuals keep related with associates throughout all these providers in a mixed timeline, it additionally permits cross-posting to a number of networks directly.
With the added capital, Svancer plans to speed up product improvement, increase Openvibe’s consumer base, work on integrations with different social platforms, refine the consumer interface, and extra.
In addition, Automattic’s funding is price noting, as the corporate traditionally backs initiatives within the open supply house, notably these designed to compete with Big Tech. (Unfortunately, Automattic CEO and WordPress co-creator Matt Mullenweg has created a whole lot of division and drama inside the WordPress group over the previous a number of months, which has some questioning his dedication to open supply values.)
Still, Openvibe’s fundraising indicators that there’s some urge for food amongst traders for backing apps and providers which might be benefiting from the brand new open social protocols. Recently, for instance, celeb investor and entrepreneur Mark Cuban put out a name for video apps constructing on Bluesky’s AT Protocol. Bluesky has additionally raised funding, most not too long ago its $15 million Series A final fall.
Openvibe is out there as a free app on iOS and Android however plans to later introduce a subscription plan to generate income.
