Ben Rubin at Disrupt: The Future of Social Media

Ben Rubin: A Pioneer in Social Networking

Ben Rubin possesses a keen understanding of the evolving landscape of social media. His foresight consistently places him at the forefront of emerging trends.

Currently, Rubin serves as the CEO and co-founder of Slashtalk. He also functions as an angel investor, actively scouting opportunities for Sequoia Capital.

Early Ventures and Influential Apps

Rubin’s previous endeavors include the founding of Houseparty and Meerkat. These applications were instrumental in pioneering both group video chat and mobile livestreaming, significantly influencing the development of major social trends.

In 2015, Meerkat rapidly gained prominence at SXSW. The app demonstrated remarkable potential, attracting the attention of established social media companies.

Twitter recognized the emerging trend and, having already acquired Periscope earlier that year, capitalized on Meerkat’s momentum to drive user engagement with its own platform.

Subsequently, within six months, Facebook entered the livestreaming arena with the launch of Facebook Live.

From Meerkat to Houseparty

While Meerkat ultimately couldn't sustain its initial growth, it underwent a transformation. The same team then introduced Houseparty in 2016.

Houseparty was designed as a group video chat application focused on facilitating casual virtual interactions among existing friends, differing from the broader streaming approach of Meerkat.

Three years later, prior to the widespread impact of the pandemic, Houseparty was acquired by Epic Games, the creators of Fortnite.

Houseparty's Pandemic Surge and Subsequent Decline

The onset of the pandemic and associated lockdowns led to a surge in Houseparty’s popularity. During a single month, the app experienced 50 million new registrations and achieved top rankings on both the iOS App Store and Google Play.

However, Houseparty faced challenges in user retention. In the fall of 2021, Epic Games announced the discontinuation of the project and its removal from app stores.

The potential integration of Houseparty’s technology into Epic’s metaverse vision – a network of interconnected virtual worlds – remains to be seen.

Regardless of its ultimate fate, Houseparty’s emphasis on social spontaneity and relaxed group video communication proved to be remarkably prescient.

Slashtalk: The Next Chapter

Given his track record, Ben Rubin is uniquely positioned to anticipate the future direction of social networks.

He is currently developing Slashtalk, described as “an anti-meeting tool for fast, decentralized conversations.”

Slashtalk’s core principles align with the belief in social serendipity that underpinned both Meerkat and Houseparty, but with a focus on the professional environment rather than consumer social interaction.

TechCrunch Disrupt 2021

Rubin will be a featured speaker at TechCrunch Disrupt 2021. He will discuss his new company and the trends driving current shifts in social networking.

These trends include decentralization, ownership, and the evolving landscape of a connected world in the post-pandemic era.