Nasza Klasa

The founders' journey began as a project among a close-knit group of programming students. Maciej Popowicz is credited with the initial idea, which he shared with his colleagues. Their shared background in computer science at the University of Wrocław provided the technical foundation to build and launch the platform. The venture proved immensely successful, and in 2007, Popowicz sold a 20% stake to German venture capital fund European Founders, making him one of Poland's youngest millionaires. A more significant transaction occurred in early 2008 when Estonian fund Forticom acquired a 70% stake, valuing the company at an estimated 150-200 million Polish zlotys. Over the years, ownership changed hands multiple times, eventually landing with Ringier Axel Springer Polska, who would oversee its final years.

Nasza Klasa's business model initially focused on user growth, capitalizing on the network effect in a market with few competitors. As the platform matured, it shifted towards monetization through various features. This included introducing premium services, virtual goods, and integrating browser-based games with microtransactions. The target market was broad, encompassing nearly all Polish internet users, from students to older generations looking to reconnect with their past. At its peak in 2010-2011, the site boasted around 14 million active users and was one of the most visited websites in Poland. However, this push for revenue, marked by the introduction of the controversial 'Śledzik' (a microblogging feature) and a rebranding to nk.pl, alienated a significant portion of its user base. These changes, coupled with the aggressive rise of Facebook's Polish-language version, led to a steady decline in users and relevance. The service was officially shut down on July 27, 2021.