Meetup.com is a New York–based social platform hosting and organizing events for shared interests. Now owned by Bending Spoons (since 2024), it connects 60M users through paid and free tiers. In current news, paid social clubs are gaining traction, redefining connection.
Bending Spoons has begun trading on Nasdaq with a valuation around $25.5-25.7 billion and raised about $1.68 billion. The Milan-based group acquires and rebuilds aging digital brands such as Eventbrite, Evernote, Meetup and AOL, then holds them to drive growth through AI-enabled features, pricing, and tighter operations. Revenue in Q1 2026 reached $601 million with $27.5 million net income as it scales its portfolio and expands its multi-brand strategy.
A wave of paid social clubs is growing, offering curated real-world connections through platforms like TimeLeft, Chirpy Plus, and EatWith. The trend echoes historical private clubs but operates as for-profit digital platforms. Loneliness remains a public concern in Australia as the phenomenon spreads globally and reshapes social interactions.