Cooper Raises $2M for Introduction-Based Professional Network

During times requiring social distancing, establishing new professional relationships can be particularly challenging. To address this, Amsterdam-based Cooper is developing a network focused on facilitating and receiving introductions.

“The entire structure of the network is built upon the principle of introductions,” explained CEO Robert Gaal. “Users will not receive unsolicited messages, and the concept of a connection request is unnecessary when introductions are the standard practice.”

Today marks the startup’s international launch, alongside the announcement of a $2 million seed funding round.

Gaal, who founded the company with CTO Emiel van Liere, characterizes Cooper as “a private professional network prioritizing the quality of relationships over the sheer number of connections, and centered around the people you already trust.”

This contrasts with current professional networking platforms, which often function primarily as online directories of résumés and tend to emphasize the quantity of connections rather than their depth. (It’s worth noting that many LinkedIn users, myself included, have connections with individuals they don’t know well.)

Cooper adopts a different strategy, restricting users’ connections to those they genuinely know. To achieve this, the platform can access data from a user’s online calendar and also provides a unique personal invite code for sharing with trusted professional contacts.

Users can then share requests or opportunities, visible to their connections and their connections’ networks, who can offer to provide helpful introductions either through email or directly within the Cooper platform.

Gaal shared that during the initial beta phase, several users successfully found new employment opportunities through Cooper, often following job losses related to the pandemic – situations they were comfortable discussing within their close network but preferred not to publicize widely.

“Establishing trust as a foundation allows for greater discovery and opens the door to reimagining concepts like résumés and mentorship,” he stated.

While sharing a calendar invitation doesn’t automatically signify trust or a strong relationship, Cooper may explore additional metrics to gauge the strength of connections, such as email frequency, according to Gaal. However, the initial focus is on replicating the comfortable professional environment where one might say, “You’re seeking a job? A friend of mine is hiring.”

These types of conversations already occur offline, but Gaal pointed out that most individuals can only readily recall a limited number of people at any given time. Cooper aims to make this “marketplace” more visible and easier to manage.

The startup does not rely on advertising revenue or the sale of user data. Gaal intends to generate income by offering membership fees for features such as profile customization or increased visibility for requests.

Comcast Ventures led the startup’s seed funding round, with participation from LocalGlobe and 468 Capital.

“Cooper is creating a professional network that encourages meaningful and substantial connections at a time when connecting with others is more difficult,” commented Daniel Gulati, founding partner at Forecast Fund and former managing director at Comcast Ventures, in a released statement. “We are pleased to support the team as they move forward.”