Kumospace
{{Multiple issues|
{{notability|1=Companies|date=August 2023}}
{{advert|date=August 2023}}
{{Orphan|date=August 2024}}
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{{Infobox company
| name = Kumospace
| logo = Primary Logo Forest (6).png
| type = Privately held company
| industry = Collaborative software
| founded = {{Start date and age|2020|11|1}}
| founders = Yang Mou and Brett Martin
| hq_location_city = New York City
| hq_location_country = United States
| area_served = Worldwide
| key_people =
| products = Communication software, Virtual office, virtual workplace
| owner =
| num_employees =
| num_employees_year =
| parent =
| website = {{URL |https://www.kumospace.com/}}
}}
Kumospace is an American virtual office and virtual events software and eponymous company that develops and maintains it, based in New York City.{{Cite web |date=2022-08-08 |title=Kumospace levanta dinheiro para substituir escritórios físicos por virtuais - TEG6 |url=https://teg6.com/58803/noticias/kumospace-levanta-dinheiro-para-substituir-escritorios-fisicos-por-virtuais/ |access-date=2023-05-28 |language=pt-BR}}{{Cite web |last=神译局 |date=2021-03-04 |title=线上会议索然无味？这些公司带来新的可能性-36氪 |url=https://36kr.com/p/1119527160934409 |access-date=2023-08-08 |website=36kr.com}} When using the platform users enter a stylized, video game-like simulation of a physical office with chairs, coffee tables, water coolers, and conference rooms.
History
Kumospace was founded by two friends, Yang Mou and Brett Martin. According to the New York Times, Kumospace founders were mainly influenced by massively multiplayer online role-playing games such as World of Warcraft.{{Cite news |last1=Lu |first1=Yiren |last2=Abella |first2=Derek |date=2021-02-17 |title=The Race to Fix Virtual Meetings |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/17/magazine/video-conference.html |access-date=2023-05-28 |issn=0362-4331}}
Before creating Kumospace, they created several companies focused on using technology to connect people including Sonar and Switch.{{Cite web |last1=Дубко |first1=Ксения |last2=репортер |first2=Городской |date=2022-02-11 |title=Будущее онлайн-общения: куда идти, если Zoom надоел |url=https://cityreporter.ru/budushhee-onlajn-obshheniya-kuda-idti-esli-zoom-nadoel/ |access-date=2023-08-08 |website=Городской репортер — Ростов-на-Дону |language=ru-RU}}
During the platform's development from August 2020 to March 2021, Kumospace increased its active user base 100 times from an undisclosed base.{{Cite web |date=2021-04-21 |title=Immersive spatial video chat provider Kumospace raises $3M in seed funding |url=https://siliconangle.com/2021/04/21/immersive-spatial-video-chat-provider-kumospace-raises-3m-seed-funding/ |access-date=2023-05-28 |website=SiliconANGLE |language=en-US}} The software was officially launched on November 1, 2020.
In April 2021, Kumospace secured $3 million in seed funding led by Boldstart Ventures with participation from Lightspeed’s Scout Fund and GP from ENIAC Ventures.{{Cite web |last=FinSMEs |date=2021-04-21 |title=Kumospace Raises $3M in Seed Funding |url=https://www.finsmes.com/2021/04/kumospace-raises-3m-in-seed-funding.html |access-date=2023-05-28 |website=FinSMEs |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Kumospace |url=https://boldstart.vc/companies/kumospace/ |access-date=2023-05-28 |website=boldstart ventures |language=en-US}}
In August 2022, Kumospace closed a $21 million Series A round led by Lightspeed with participation from Boldstart Ventures and others. The Series A brings 20-employee Kumospace's total raised capital to $24 million.{{Cite web |last=Wiggers |first=Kyle |date=2022-08-08 |title=Kumospace nabs cash to replace physical offices with virtual ones |url=https://techcrunch.com/2022/08/08/kumospace-raises-new-cash-to-replace-physical-offices-with-virtual-ones/ |access-date=2023-05-28 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}}
In October 2022, Kumospace partnered with theDesk, a coworking space platform headquartered in Hong Kong, to launch a virtual work and collaboration platform for businesses in the country.{{Cite web |date=2022-10-31 |title=HK's theDesk partners with office software platform Kumospace {{!}} AsiaTechDaily - Asia's Leading Tech and Startup Media Platform |url=https://asiatechdaily.com/hks-thedesk-partners-with-office-software-platform-kumospace/,%20https://asiatechdaily.com/hks-thedesk-partners-with-office-software-platform-kumospace/ |access-date=2023-08-04 |language=en-US}}
In 2021, Super Goop, a cosmetic brand specializing in SPF, presented the launch of its new product, Glowscreen Body SPF 40, through Kumospace's digital platform. It was the first known experience in Thailand. The event featured a large swimming pool and a broadcast by the brand's founder.{{Cite web |date=2021-09-29 |title=งานอีเวนต์ออนไลน์มิติใหม่ครั้งแรกในไทย! Supergoop! เปิดตัวผลิตภัณฑ์ Glowscreen Body SPF 40 กันแดดผิวกายเนื้อโลชั่น ผ่าน Kumospace ผู้นำด้านเวิล์ดดิจิทัลพร้อมเพลิดเพลิน Virtual Pool Party จิบมินิบาร์ ท้าแดด! |url=https://positioningmag.com/1353877 |access-date=2023-05-28 |website=Positioning Magazine |language=en-US}}
In 2023, Kumospace acquired Kosy Software Ltd.{{Cite web |last=Boyle |first=Matthew |date=16 August 2023 |title=Virtual-Office Provider Kumospace Buys Rival in Latest Sign of Consolidation |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-08-16/kumospace-buys-virtual-office-software-rival |website=Bloomberg}}
Software workflow
Users can log in as guests without providing an email address. After selecting an avatar, they enter a stylized, video game-like simulation of a physical office with chairs, coffee tables, water coolers, and conference rooms. The platform offers team-building analogs, such as games, music, and drinks (in a virtual bar).
Kumospace has ten rooms, each with a challenge you can solve with your team. Over time, Kumospace plans to expand the range of games embedded in the virtual environment. Virtual office spaces come in different sizes and are designed for 30 people.{{Cite web |last=Staff |date=2021-10-19 |title=Kumospace: Try this fun new way to mix up your virtual meetings |url=https://barrie360.com/kumospace-try-this-fun-new-way-to-mix-up-your-virtual-meetings/ |access-date=2023-05-28 |website=Barrie 360 |language=en-US}}
Academic research and courses
The software has been the subject of academic papers in USA, Indonesia, Germany, Vietnam and other countries.{{Cite journal |last1=Julie |first1=S. Berame |last2=Minie |first2=L. Bulay |last3=Rissa |first3=L. Mercado |last4=Carlo |first4=P. Collantes |last5=Romel |first5=A. Defacto |last6=Caroline |first6=A. Gildo |last7=Maricar |first7=P. Nituda |date=2022-10-24 |title=A Effectiveness of Kumospace Apps on the Academic Performance of Grade 9 Students in Online Physics Class |url=https://journals.e-palli.com/home/index.php/ajet/article/view/767 |journal=American Journal of Education and Technology |language=en |volume=1 |issue=3 |pages=1–8 |doi=10.54536/ajet.v1i3.767 |issn=2832-9481 |s2cid=253154730|doi-access=free }}{{Cite web |last=Amanda |first=Mediyanti Putri |title=PENGARUH PENGGUNAAN MEDIA KUMOSPACE TERHADAP ANTUSIAS BELAJAR SISWA KELAS IV SDN Sawah IV |url=https://ecampus-fip.umj.ac.id/repo/handle/123456789/66 |language=Indonesian}}{{Cite web |title=Thiết kế mô hình tổ chức dạy học bộ môn toán lớp 5 ứng dụng nền tảng kumospace = Designing teaching models for 5th grade mathematics using kumospace platform |url=https://repository.vnu.edu.vn/handle/VNU_123/146035}}
Several British universities included Kumospace as separate sessions within their courses on Networking and Profile building.{{Cite web |title=All events {{!}} Postdoctoral Development Centre |url=https://www.qub.ac.uk/sites/pdc/Resources/Workshopsandevents/Allevents/NetworkingandProfileBuildingforResearchers6-partProgramme.html |access-date=2023-08-25 |website=www.qub.ac.uk}}{{Cite web |title=Networking and Profile Building - Queen Mary Academy |url=https://www.qmul.ac.uk/queenmaryacademy/postdocs/courses/networking-and-profile-building/ |access-date=2023-08-25 |website=www.qmul.ac.uk}}