Vive (software)

Vive was founded in Hannover by Arnd Aschentrup, Matthias Kleinmann and Tobias Dickmeis.^[2] All three had been involved in similar, formative projects prior to the creation of the app. Aschentrup worked with a number of companies in Germany's tech scene, co-founding Cyoshi Mobile GmbH with Dickmeis and later becoming Global COO of Mobile Streams.^[3]

The company entered beta-phase in June 2014^[4] and launched its iOS app in September of the same year. In October 2014 an iPad version of Vive was released, the same month during which the company successfully secured a 1.5 million funding round from prominent European investors.^[5] Among them were Atlantic Internet GmbH, Hannover Beteiligungs Fond (HBF) and Mittelständische Beteiligungsgesellschaft Niedersachen (MBG).^[6]

The app allows members to search for people within their locality as well as around the world. Upon logging into the app, members are presented with a list of other users, ranked on the basis of common interests and last log-in.^[7] The app aims to provide a platform for authentic, emotional and spontaneous connection between its members.^[8] It is reminiscent of the video-chatting websites Airtime and Chatroulette.^[9]

Potential members are asked how they would like to use Vive and what they can share with the community. A team of moderators then evaluate applicants based on their answers.^[10]

Vive users were able to connect in Facebook Spaces^[11] until Spaces was replaced by Facebook Horizon.