Gather Voices

Gather Voices is a software company that provides tools for the collection, management, and publication of user-generated video content. It was founded in 2017 by Michael Hoffman and Joel Resnik and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The company was spun out of See3 Communications, a digital marketing agency founded by Hoffman that works with nonprofits and social causes. Hoffman, who serves as CEO, previously worked as a nonprofit fundraiser and in venture capital, and has taught marketing at the University of Chicago. Resnik is the Co-Founder & Chief Revenue Officer.

The Gather Voices platform is designed to make it simple for organizations to co-create videos with their stakeholders, such as customers, employees, and members. The technology operates on a three-step model: Gather, Build, and Share. The "Gather" feature allows organizations to create video requests with talking points, time limits, and legal releases, which can be sent to contributors. The software then coaches users on their own devices to produce quality videos by providing guidance on lighting, sound, and framing. The "Build" functionality includes user-friendly editing tools that allow for the addition of branding, captions, music, and transitions, even for non-experts. The "Share" feature provides various assets like links, embed codes, and animated thumbnails for easy distribution across different channels.

The company's business model is based on a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) subscription, offering different plans such as Teams, Enterprise, and Advanced, with pricing available upon request. Gather Voices primarily serves trade and professional associations, as well as the events industry, helping them create promotional videos and gather member testimonials. It also offers specialized products like the Gather Voices Video Kiosk for collecting video at live events and integrations with platforms like Zoom and Canva. The company has received seed funding from investors including New Stack Ventures, Chicago Early Growth Ventures, and others.

Keywords: user-generated video, video collection, video content management, video editing software, stakeholder engagement, customer testimonials, video marketing, SaaS, marketing technology, virtual events, authentic content, digital engagement, community content, video automation, nonprofit marketing, association marketing, event technology, video relationship management, content co-creation, digital storytelling