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§ Private Profile · 1548 E Primrose St, Springfield, MO 65804, USA
Hearo.Live - Multiplayer TV is a technology company.
Hearo.Live provides a multiplayer TV platform for synchronized co-watching of streaming content. It integrates real-time voice and text chat, allowing users to collaboratively experience movies, shows, and live events across major streaming services. This technology replicates the social atmosphere of shared viewing, connecting remote audiences through shared digital entertainment.
Edward Lerner and Dwight K. founded Hearo.Live in 2017. Lerner, a former Sony PlayStation executive and pioneer of "talk-and-play" games at Multitude, recognized the need for social engagement in fragmented media. The company emerged from the insight that passive media consumption could transform into active social interaction.
Hearo.Live targets individuals seeking to deepen social connections through shared media experiences. The platform offers a virtual venue for remote viewing, catering to users desiring real-time interaction with digital content. The company envisions transforming solitary streaming into a vibrant, interactive group activity, cultivating meaningful relationships through entertainment.
Hearo.Live - Multiplayer TV has raised $2.0M across 1 funding round.
Hearo.Live - Multiplayer TV has raised $2.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Hearo.Live - Multiplayer TV has raised $2.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $2.0M Hearo.Live - Seed in February 2020.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 1, 2020 | $2M Seed | — | 500 Global, AngelPad, BITKRAFT Ventures, C2 Investment, Citg Capital, GFR Fund, Incisive Ventures, Inspiration VC, InterWest, Jumpstart Foundry, Long Journey Ventures, Ride Ventures, Speedy Packets Inc., Trajectory Ventures, Uncork Capital, Watertower Ventures, Alberto Benbunan, Alex Rigopulos, Blake VAN Leer, Dharmesh Shah, Gokul Rajaram, Hiten Shah, JAY Baer, JAY Gould, JON Goldman, Paul Heydon, Scott Banister | Announced |
Hearo.Live - Multiplayer TV has raised $2.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Hearo.Live - Multiplayer TV's investors include 500 Global, AngelPad, BITKRAFT Ventures, C2Ventures, CITG Capital, GFR Fund, Incisive Ventures, Inspiration VC, InterWest, Jumpstart Foundry, Long Journey Ventures, Ride Ventures.
Hearo.Live is a technology company building Multiplayer TV, a cross-platform app that transforms solitary video watching into interactive social experiences by enabling users to co-watch content from over 50 services like Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, HBO Max, Prime Video, ESPN, and Twitch while chatting, talking, and reacting in real-time with voice features, applause, and cheering.[1][2][5] It serves hyper-connected, mobile-first viewers—primarily the iPhone generation—who consume more video but less traditional TV, solving the problem of isolated media consumption by creating virtual venues with private "boxes," robust echo cancellation, and high engagement (near 100% with hour-long sessions).[1][2] The company has achieved viral growth to over a million users in 18 months, backed by $3 million and 4 years of R&D, and has raised funds via equity crowdfunding on Republic, exceeding $581,000 at one point.[1][2]
Hearo.Live emerged from the need to replace solitary TV watching with connected experiences, especially amid pandemic restrictions that prevented in-person gatherings for movies and events.[2] The founders invested $3 million and 4 years in R&D to blend smart TV software with a voice-based social network, inventing their patent-pending Multiplayer TV technology that synchronizes video across devices (Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, web) and handles complex engineering like echo cancellation for seamless group voice chat.[1] Early traction came via viral growth to over a million users in 18 months, with the platform launching its desktop and mobile co-watching app to support 25+ (now 50+) video services, positioning it as a post-Zoom evolution for TV.[1][2]
Hearo.Live rides the social video trend, capitalizing on the shift where younger users watch 82% less traditional TV but more on-demand video from streaming services, amplified by pandemic-driven demand for remote connection tools like Zoom.[1][2] Timing is ideal as video consumption explodes—Twitch and Netflix dominate—yet lacks native social layers; Hearo's engineering fills this by syncing disparate platforms without native support, influencing the ecosystem toward "live" media experiences.[1] It positions alongside media community platforms but stands out in vocal interactivity, potentially shaping how streamers, sports fans, and movie nights evolve into global, buzzing venues amid rising mobile-first social tech.[1][4]
Hearo.Live is poised to expand its 1M+ user base by rolling out Hearo Hubs for stranger matchmaking and deeper integration with emerging video services, leveraging its R&D edge in voice tech amid AI-driven personalization trends.[1] Rising demand for immersive social viewing—fueled by VR/AR watch parties and global events—could accelerate growth, especially if it monetizes via premium features or partnerships. Its influence may grow by redefining TV as inherently multiplayer, turning isolated screens into thriving communities and challenging giants like Twitch to add vocal sync. This builds on its viral momentum, making Hearo a frontrunner in connected entertainment.[1][2]