Root announced a $9 million seed funding round to develop a social platform featuring customizable applications for building and managing large online communities. The platform aims to address limitations in existing community tools by offering integrated solutions designed for diverse group needs.
The round was led by Headline Ventures and Konvoy Ventures. Participating investors included Day One Ventures, Untamed Ventures, Crunchyroll founder Kun Gao, Clark Valberg, and Jack Dunlop. Root plans to launch a closed beta version of its application in the near future.
Root's core offering is its customizable app framework. This framework allows communities to integrate specific features directly within the platform, eliminating the need for external software. For instance, Root will launch with first-party applications such as a Raid Planner, designed for massively multiplayer online (MMO) gaming communities, and a Task Tracker. These applications are built to integrate seamlessly within the Root environment, meaning community members do not need to access third-party programs to manage their activities. The platform also supports community-specific app development, enabling users with JavaScript knowledge to create their own tools tailored to their community's requirements. This approach is intended to provide a more cohesive and integrated experience for community management, reducing reliance on fragmented solutions.
Beyond the app framework, Root incorporates several features designed to enhance community organization and interaction. These include file folders for structured content management, a tab system for navigating multiple servers efficiently, and an updated chat user interface. These functionalities are presented as solutions to common organizational challenges faced by large online groups, aiming to improve how information is accessed and managed within a community. The design seeks to provide a more intuitive and organized environment compared to traditional chat-centric platforms.
"What success means for one community is so drastically different for another community. When you look at platforms like Discord and so on, the only thing that communities are getting for success is basic chatting features… I believe, deeply, that every community’s needs are different depending on the community you’re in," commented Jesse Dietrichson, founder and CEO of Root.
