Anymeeting

AnyMeeting originated as a provider of web conferencing and webinar services tailored for the small business sector. The company's journey began in 2009 with a beta version called Freebinar, founded by Costin Tuculescu, a 12-year veteran of the web conferencing industry. Officially launched as AnyMeeting in 2011, the company was backed by angel investors from groups like Keiretsu Forum, Tech Coast Angels, and Pasadena Angels. Tuculescu identified an opportunity to serve small, cost-conscious businesses by offering a full-featured platform through a 'freemium' model.

The initial business model was distinctive, providing a completely free, ad-supported service with the same features as paid competitors. This strategy proved successful, attracting over 75,000 customers within the first couple of years. Revenue was generated through non-intrusive advertisements displayed during meetings. In response to user demand, the company later introduced an ad-free subscription option, allowing users to pay a monthly fee to remove advertisements while retaining the same feature set. The platform operated as a Software as a Service (SaaS), accessible via a web browser and built on Adobe Flash Player.

The service provided a comprehensive suite of tools, including six-way video conferencing, screen and application sharing, meeting recording, and integration with applications like PayPal for paid webinars. By September 2017, the company had amassed over one million registered users. This growth and established user base led to its acquisition by Intermedia, a leading cloud business applications provider, on September 6, 2017. The acquisition was a strategic move for Intermedia to enhance its Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) offerings, integrating AnyMeeting's technology directly into its product suite to replace the licensed Skype for Business it had been using. Following the acquisition, AnyMeeting became a core component of the Intermedia Unite platform, shifting away from the freemium model and integrating into Unite's subscription tiers.

Keywords: web conferencing, webinar services, small business communication, Costin Tuculescu, Freebinar, Intermedia acquisition, Unified Communications as a Service, UCaaS, SaaS, online meetings, video conferencing, screen sharing, freemium model, ad-supported software, subscription service, remote collaboration, SMB tools, virtual meetings, cloud communications, lead generation webinars, online training platform, Intermedia Unite