Clubhouse Waitlist Grows After Android Rollout

The release of the Android app for Clubhouse has sparked renewed interest in the audio-based social media platform after a lull that was preceded by an initial stampede by iOS users last year, CNBC reported on Tuesday (May 25).

Clubhouse Co-Founder and CEO Paul Davison said the startup was better prepared for the Android launch earlier this month after the rush of iOS users but that didn’t prevent a waiting list “in the millions” from forming.

“We hope to be ready to let more in soon,” Davison told CNBC. The startup came in thirty-third on CNBC’s Disruptor 50 list.

Davison added that he and co-founder Rohan Seth launched the company in March 2020 with a “measured approach to growth,” something they both felt was important.

App downloads peaked at 9 million in February but trickled to 900,000 by April. The release of the Android version of the app brought in another million and there are “millions more people are on the waitlist,” Davison told CNBC.

The initial onslaught of new users earlier this year triggered some technical glitches like crippled servers and stifled notifications and the company realized they had to rein in the pace. “When you grow communities too quickly, things can break,” he said.

According to Clubhouse, it has over 10 million weekly active users that create some 300,000 rooms daily. People tend to spend more than 60 minutes every day on the platform.

Clubhouse sees inroads to monetization in the future via ticketed events and subscriptions. Currently, users have the option of tipping creators fee-free on a one-time basis — Clubhouse takes no cut, unlike other creator sites like Patreon, CNBC reported.

The Silicon Valley startup launched payments capabilities on April 5 and is eyeing a $4 billion valuation as it goes after another round of funding. The platform has attracted name-brand creators like Oprah Winfrey, Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and others.

The app’s popularity has prompted competitors to launch their own audio-only experiences, with Facebook and others exploring plans.  Globally, companies like Dizhua, Tiya and Yalla are picking up users in China, the U.S., Egypt, and Saudi Arabia.