Sidechat
Sidechat is an anonymous social networking app that lets US college students post, comment, and message within verified campus and interest-based communities via iOS and web, monetizing through a freemium subscription and an emerging ads product.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersNyack, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Sidechat does
Sidechat is a US-based, mobile-first anonymous social networking platform that serves primarily college students. Users verify their affiliation with a US college or university via a school email address and gain access to campus-specific feeds where they can post, comment, and send direct messages anonymously, alongside browsing interest-based communities that extend beyond the campus perimeter. The product is delivered through an iOS application distributed via the Apple App Store and a responsive web interface (web.sidechat.lol), with a high-cadence monthly release cycle of incremental UX and bug-fix updates.
The business operates a freemium model: the core social experience is free, while an optional "Sidechat Monthly" subscription ($4.99/month promotional, $6.99/month standard) provides premium features, and a nascent Sidechat Ads product is being developed via the Yik Yak for Business channel. The company is legally domiciled as Flower Ave Inc under parent Flower Ave LLC, and in 2023 acquired Yik Yak — the legacy competitor in the anonymous-campus category — consolidating the two brands under common ownership while maintaining them as separate applications.
Go-to-market is product-led and organic: users self-onboard through app download and email verification, with awareness generated through TikTok, Instagram, and X (Twitter) and campus word-of-mouth. The company is privately held, headquartered in Nyack, USA, with 11-50 employees, and has raised at least one funding round (2023) with Canaan Partners and Gaingels as disclosed investors.
Sidechat firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sidechat
- Legal name
- Flower Ave Inc
- Website
- https://sidechat.lol
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Sidechat is an anonymous social networking app that lets US college students post, comment, and message within verified campus and interest-based communities via iOS and web, monetizing through a freemium subscription and an emerging ads product.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sidechat industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Anonymous Social Networking
- NAICS
- Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (51621)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Community/Group Chat Platforms (BPAMACAH)
Keywords
Where Sidechat is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Nyack
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Sidechat business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Operations
Revenue model
- Subscription (Sidechat Monthly): Optional premium subscription tiers providing additional features beyond the free base offering. Early Bird pricing at $4.99/month and standard $6.99/month subscription.
- Freemium Core Platform: Core anonymous social networking features are free to use. Users can post, comment, message, and join communities at no cost.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Sidechat Monthly (Early Bird) |
| Subscription | Monthly | Sidechat Monthly (Standard) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
Sidechat product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sidechat is a mobile-first anonymous social networking platform for college students that enables posting, commenting, direct messaging, and sharing of images and polls within campus-specific communities. Users join by verifying a school email, which scopes them to their college feed while preserving anonymity. The core experience is free, with an optional premium subscription ("Sidechat Monthly") unlocking additional features.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Sidechat iOS App Mobile-first anonymous social networking app for college students, distributed via the Apple App Store. Users verify with a school email to join their campus feed and anonymously post, comment, message, share images, and create polls.
- Sidechat Web Platform Responsive web-based version of Sidechat that lets users browse campus communities and content without installing the iOS app, supporting the same campus-scoped anonymous social experience in the browser.
- Sidechat Monthly (Premium Subscription) Optional recurring monthly subscription that unlocks additional premium features beyond the free Sidechat core experience.
Companies that use Sidechat
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Sidechat technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Sidechat partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Yik YakcoreSidechat acquired Yik Yak in 2023. Both apps remain separate with distinct brands and designs but are now under the same ownership. Yik Yak continues as a distinct app targeting similar anonymous campus community use cases.
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Sidechat competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks1 record
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Sidechat social profiles
Digital presenceSidechat financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sidechat leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Sidechat subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Sidechat funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors4 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sidechat M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Sidechat
What does Sidechat do?
Sidechat is a mobile-first anonymous social networking platform for college students that enables posting, commenting, direct messaging, and sharing of images and polls within campus-specific communities. Users join by verifying a school email, which scopes them to their college feed while preserving anonymity. The core experience is free, with an optional premium subscription ("Sidechat Monthly") unlocking additional features.
Is Sidechat a public or private company?
Sidechat is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Sidechat founded?
Sidechat was founded in 2019. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Sidechat based?
Sidechat is headquartered in Nyack, United States, in the North America region.
How does Sidechat make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Subscription (Sidechat Monthly) is the primary driver. The others are freemium Core Platform.
Does Sidechat have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sidechat.
What industry is Sidechat in?
Sidechat's product category is Anonymous Social Networking. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAMACAH, Community/Group Chat Platforms. Its NAICS code is 51621.