Jun 28, 2023 13:00:00

SNS that raised more than 28 billion yen and gathered 20 million users found that 95% of users were bots and closed

The social app '

IRL ', which allows you to chat with friends, join your favorite communities and interact with others, was closed on June 28, 2023. An internal investigation revealed that 95% of the app's 20 million users were bots.

Unicorn social app IRL to shut down after admitting 95% of its users were fake | TechCrunch
https://techcrunch.com/2023/06/26/irl-shut-down-fake-users/

IRL admits 95% of its app users fake, will shut down |

https://fortune.com/2023/06/25/irl-shutting-down-startup-admits-95-percent-of-messaging-app-users-were-fake/

Startup IRL will raise $ 200 million (about 29 billion yen) from Softbank Vision Fund and others in 2021, and the valuation will reach $ 1.17 billion (about 170 billion yen). I was showing The company describes itself as 'a leading group messaging and social network that brings people together through events and shared experiences,' said CEO Abraham Shafi. Creating a community,” he said.

However, in 2022, the IRL will suddenly lay off nearly 25 people out of a team of about 100 people. It is said that the number of employees was more than tripled in 2021, so the employees were surprised by this layoff. It seems that the number of voices doubting Mr. Shafi's words claiming that he is a person has increased.

The Information first reported that IRL had been subjected to an internal investigation by its board of directors, which found that 95% of IRL's alleged 20 million users were bots. matter. In response to this report, the board of directors suspended CEO Shafi.

'Based on the findings of the survey, the majority of shareholders have concluded that the company is unsustainable going forward,' an IRL spokesperson said in a statement. IRL said it will soon be out of business and will return capital to shareholders.

Other startup leaders said, ``It's almost impossible to build a real business without cheating and then climb to the top in a few years.'' ``Why isn't my company growing like IRL? I am often asked if it is, but IRL was a fraudster from the beginning,' he criticized the IRL system.