Weare8 has shut down its Australian operations and laid of its local staff two years after launching down under.
The platform will be centralising its marketing functions into its London HQ as momentum for the platform continues in the UK, Europe, and the US.
Weare8’s business and app will continue to provide value and support to its Australian brand clients, agencies, communities, publishers, impact partners and Citizens.
As a result of the momentum in the UK, Europe, and the US, we are centralising the marketing functions into our London HQ and will no longer have any full-time employees in Australia. We are very grateful for the amazing work that our team in Australia has done over the last two years.
The app is in discussions with key media partners to accelerate local sales across of its existing and new products, include in-app programmatic ad delivery, in-app CPM feed and our ‘Golden 8’ publisher ad network, that enables 10M+ Australian citizens to watch an ad on Premium Publisher websites, while sharing economics with Publishers and Charities.
Weare8 founder Zoe Kalar (formerly known as Sue Fennessy) said in a statement: “There has never been a more critical time for a social media alternative that protects people from toxic content, unlocks the algorithms so that people can see who they follow and transforms the economics in a way that shares the money from advertisers with people, publishers and charities.
“All the community support programs and media partnerships on WeAre8 will continue and be supported by our central community team.”
Sue Fennessey and Lizzie Young
Kalar, brought the sustainable social media app to Australia in 2022 alongside Lizzie Young who was tapped as the Australian CEO at the time.
WeAre8 aimed to reshape the social media market by providing a sustainable model that delivers users a hate free platform. Its content feed focused on delivering 8 minutes of mindful media every day, with the aim to reconnect people with the world around them during that time.
After launching in Australia, the app launched in the US with the backing of charities and publishers and media companies Warner Bros. Discovery, PinkNews, The Independent and LADbible Group.
The March 2024, Young stepped down from her role as APAC CEO and global growth officer at WeAre8. At the time, Young cited time zones as her reason for leaving, with her global role seeing her work across Australia, the UK, and the USA.
She has since been appointed to the role of CEO of Commercial Radio & Audio (CRA).