Hivebrite takes community engagement to the next level with the acquisition of AI-powered matching engine Orbiit

Hivebrite, the leading online community management platform, strengthens market position with innovative AI-powered engagement technology.

Paris, France — July 9, 2024 — Hivebrite, the all-in-one community management and engagement platform, today announced the acquisition of Orbiit, an AI-powered matching company. This strategic move underscores Hivebrite’s commitment to providing its customers with the best technology to build impactful communities.

Renowned organizations such as Santander, Euronext, the Obama Foundation, the U.S. Naval Academy, CERN, Roche, the University of Notre Dame, and the American Psychological Association trust Hivebrite to build private, branded communities for knowledge sharing, networking, mentoring, and ideation.

Orbiit’s technology will enrich Hivebrite’s offering by enabling AI-powered matching that pairs members with compatible profiles based on customizable criteria, including industry, experience, and interests. Community managers will be able to nurture meaningful relationships more efficiently, and members will experience more powerful and targeted connections, creating a more vibrant community for all.

From left to right: Hivebrite Founder Jean Hamon, alongside Orbiit’s Founders Bilyana Freye and Luuk Derksen. Photo by Elena Rossini.

Harnessing AI to amplify human connection not replace it

Artificial intelligence is being embraced throughout industries to enhance impact and simplify tasks, and the community-building industry is no different. The strength of relationships within a community significantly influences its engagement, and Hivebrite recognized the immense potential of Orbiit’s AI-matching technology to dramatically enhance the quality and quantity of connections while generating operational efficiencies.

Orbiit automates one-to-one or small group connections at scale and handles all communication, matching, scheduling, feedback collection, and analytics.

“People love meeting people, but context is crucial—especially when connections start online. Instead of sifting through endless profiles and information, our technology offers members access to the most relevant peers and high-impact resources precisely when they need them, enriching the community experience as a whole,” said Luuk Derksen, CTO at Orbiit.

Orbiit’s technology is already highly regarded in Silicon Valley for connecting operators from unicorn companies. Orbiit’s founders, Bilyana Freye and Luuk Derksen, hail from Bulgaria and the Netherlands, respectively. They met in New York, where they were inspired to create a technology that could revolutionize how people connect. Today, organizations, including Sequoia Capital, Atlassian, and the London School of Economics, use Orbiit to drive purposeful connections.

A perfect match to transform community engagement

Hivebrite and Orbiit share a strong customer base, including prominent organizations like New Enterprise Associates, Insight Partners, and Pavilion. These customers recognize the combined benefits of integrating both platforms to enrich community experiences and enhance networking opportunities for their members.

“Hivebrite and Orbiit joining forces will be transformational in improving our member experience. Together, these tools will undoubtedly amplify the value of our membership, fostering stronger connections and more meaningful interactions within our community,” said Carly Pallis, Chief of Staff at Pavilion.

“The acquisition of Orbiit marks an exciting milestone in our journey, significantly strengthening Hivebrite’s AI capabilities in a meaningful and impactful way. I love the analogy that one of our customers made recently: Hivebrite brings the home with its community platform, and Orbiit brings the soul with its AI-matching technology. It’s a match made in heaven!

Additionally, while Orbiit adds immediate value to any existing community platform, it also works effectively with a simple contact list, offering even more possibilities to our customers,” said Jean Hamon, CEO of Hivebrite.

“Insight is thrilled to see Hivebrite and Orbiit joining forces with this acquisition. By integrating Orbiit’s AI technology into its platform, Hivebrite further solidifies its leadership in the online community market. We are confident that this partnership will drive significant value for both organizations and the vibrant communities they serve,” said Peter Sobiloff, Managing Director at Insight Partners and Hivebrite board member.

This acquisition marks a pivotal advancement in community technology alongside another milestone: a new round of funding totaling $8 million. This latest round of funding follows a $37 million Series B announced in 2023. The new capital will further fuel Hivebrite’s platform innovation and reinforce its customer support for thousands of customers worldwide.

“We are thrilled to join forces with Hivebrite to transform community engagement,” said Bilyana Freye, Co-Founder and CEO of Orbiit. “This acquisition is a natural evolution from our successful collaborations with mutual clients, where we’ve seen firsthand the incredible impact we can achieve together. At Orbiit, our mission has always been to create meaningful connections at scale, and by combining Hivebrite’s product breadth with Orbiit’s depth of expertise in community matching, we can now offer the most powerful community platform on the market.”

Click here to learn more about Hivebrite and Orbiit and upcoming platform innovations.

About Hivebrite

Hivebrite is the leading all-in-one community management and engagement platform that helps organizations build, manage, and engage their communities. Hivebrite offers a wide range of tools and features designed to enhance community interaction and foster meaningful connections.

About Orbiit

Orbiit is an AI-powered matching company that powers curated 1:1 community connections at scale. Its technology enables members to opt into regular, topic-based 1:1 virtual connections and handles all comms, matching, scheduling, feedback collection, and analytics.