Games developer Voodoo acquires social photo network BeReal

Voodoo, a mobile apps and games publisher with more than 7 billion downloads worldwide, acquired BeReal, the Gen Z social network dedicated to authenticity. Terms weren’t disclosed, but the company said this transaction, which is valuing BeReal at €500 million, Voodoo further accelerates its diversification into consumer apps. Voodoo intends to further invest in BeReal while providing its expertise in product strategy, growth, and infrastructure. J.P. Morgan Securities plc acted as exclusive financial adviser to BeReal’s shareholders on the transaction.

“BeReal achieved incredible user loyalty and growth, showing there is a universal need to share real, unfiltered experiences with close friends,” said Alexandre Yazdi, Voodoo co-founder and CEO. “We are very excited to bring our teams together and leverage Voodoo’s know-how and differentiated technologies to scale BeReal into the iconic social network for authenticity.”

Founded in 2019, BeReal gained traction as the Gen Z photo social network. Each day, users receive a push notification prompting them to post whatever they are doing within a two-minute window. Photos disappear after 24 hours, and the absence of ‘likes’ or ‘followers’ creates a safe space for sharing real moments without social anxiety.

In 2022, BeReal became the #1 social networking app in the Apple’s App Store and was the iPhone ‘App of the Year’ in Apple’s App Store Awards. Following 24 months of initial explosive organic user growth, BeReal’s expansion stabilized while it focused on building out its infrastructure.

BeReal has more than 40 million active users and is one of the most popular social networks in its three key markets: the USA, Japan, and France, the company said.

Voodoo has experience in successfully carrying out complex acquisitions as illustrated by its 2021 purchase, integration, and development of BeachBum, a leading gaming studio in its category in recent years.