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BeReal

eCommerce & Marketplaces · Paris, France · Founded 2020

BeReal is a French social networking application designed to promote authenticity by having users share unfiltered photos. It was founded in 2020 by Alexis Barreyat, a former media production employee at GoPro, and Kévin Perreau, a software developer. The concept was born out of a desire to create a social platform that deviates from the highly curated and edited content seen on other networks. The core feature of the app is a daily notification sent to all users at a random, simultaneous time. Upon receiving the notification, users have a two-minute window to capture and post a photo, which simultaneously uses both the front and back cameras. This dual-camera function captures both the user and their surroundings, aiming to present a genuine snapshot of their life at that moment. Posts made after the two-minute window are marked as late. To encourage participation, users cannot view their friends' posts until they have shared their own for that day. The platform intentionally omits filters, editing tools, and public follower counts, instead focusing on connections between friends. After its release in early 2020, BeReal remained relatively unknown for about a year before gaining traction on French college campuses in 2021. Its popularity surged in 2022, particularly after a college ambassador program expanded its reach into the UK and US markets, leading to it being named the iPhone App of the Year. In June 2024, BeReal was acquired by Voodoo, a French app and game publisher, for €500 million. Prior to the acquisition, the company had secured significant venture capital, including a $30 million round led by Andreessen Horowitz and Accel, and a later Series B round that valued the company at approximately $600 million. Initially, BeReal was free to use and did not generate revenue through advertisements, focusing instead on user growth. Following its acquisition, the company has begun exploring monetization strategies. These include the introduction of an advertising platform and "RealBrands," a program allowing brands to participate in the daily photo challenge, alongside considerations for premium subscription features and strategic partnerships. Keywords: photo sharing, social media, authentic content, dual camera, daily notification, mobile application, anti-Instagram, Voodoo, Alexis Barreyat, Kévin Perreau, Gen Z app, unfiltered photos, RealMojis, time-sensitive posts, social networking, digital media, user-generated content, mobile-first, peer-to-peer sharing, ephemeral content