Heygo

The platform enabled users to join live, interactive tours led by guides from around the world, free of charge. Its business model was centered on a tip-based revenue system, where viewers could voluntarily tip the guides. Heygo would retain a 40% commission on these tips, with the remaining 60% going to the guide. The service was designed for a global, English-speaking audience and featured interactive elements such as live chat, an on-screen map, and the ability to take digital "postcards" of the tour. By March 2021, after receiving 100,000 user reviews, the company rebranded from Virtualtrips to Heygo.

Riding the wave of demand for at-home experiences, Heygo achieved significant growth, hitting two million bookings by early 2022. This momentum attracted substantial investor interest, culminating in a $20 million Series A funding round in February 2022, led by Northzone. However, as global travel restrictions eased and in-person tourism resumed, the demand for virtual tours declined significantly. The company found it challenging to make its tip-based model financially viable in a post-pandemic world, facing competition from established players like Airbnb Experiences and Viator. Despite experiments with other monetization strategies, such as monthly subscriptions, a sustainable growth model was not achieved. After efforts to sell the company were unsuccessful, Heygo announced its closure and ceased operations on April 11, 2023.