UK-based Social Calendar Startup Howbout Raises $8 Million Series A After Successful Capital-Raising Pitch
A social calendar app called Howbout, which aims to help friends easily sync their schedules and make plans together, recently secured $8 million in Series A funding led by venture capital firm Goodwater Capital.
Founded in 2020, Howbout allows users to connect their existing calendar services like Apple or Google Calendar to the app. This allows friends to view each other’s availability and vote on potential hangout ideas directly within the app. Users can also chat about plans, schedule future events together, and share photos from past get-togethers.
The startup targets power users who take on the role of keeping their friend groups organized and coming up with social activities. Dubbing these individuals “Chief Friendship Officers”, Howbout looks to provide a dedicated platform for their planning efforts.
With almost 5 million users currently, Howbout ranks among the most popular social networking apps on Apple’s App Store. The company focuses on retention through engaging features that solve real problems for young adult socializers.
Howbout demonstrated strong growth metrics and network effects to investors in its polished 12-slide pitch deck. Moving forward, it aims to experiment with monetization strategies like subscriptions while scaling user engagement internationally. Founder Neil Tanna recognizes the challenge of standing out in an crowded consumer social space but believes focusing on “retentive features” will set Howbout up for ongoing success.
