The creators of Bebo unveil their plans for 'offline social networking' (though you may have heard of it before… called a 'bar')
The creators of what was one of the
world's most successful social networks have unveiled their radical new
plans for what they believe represents the future of social media. And
it's called a bar.
Michael and Xochi Birch were major players in the development of the online social networking phenomenon, but their latest project has definitely gone offline.
The husband and wife team were the founders of the Bebo website, a rival to Facebook, which at its peak was the biggest social networking website in the UK and the third most popular in the world.
The couple netted a staggering £850m when they sold the site to AOL in 2008 after which its popularity waned.
Now after various successful
endeavours including Pinterest the scrapbooking site and a
not-for-profit water charity website, they have turned their attention
back to social networking, albiet with more than a little nod to the
past.
The Battery in San Fransisco was inspired by the new wave of London members' clubs founded from about 1980 onwards such as the Groucho, Soho House and The Hospital Club.
The Birches believe they have stumbled on a niche market, as while San Fransisco is awash with fine restaurants there are absolutely no members clubs.
They feel that by making the club members-only it will have the potential to create real-word friendships in a similar way to how social websites do online.
Unlike a traditional bar or pub, it
will mean chance encounters between for example IT entrepreneurs from
Silicon Valley and other businessmen and women from across the vibrant
city, are more likely to be repeated.
Mr Birch told the Financial Times: 'Despite being an incredibly advanced city entrepreneurially
and in every other way, San Fransisco is quite behind socially.
'What we want to do is have a diversity - we want tech to be the minority, not the majority. The normal topic of conversations should not start with your new app.'
The Battery, which is nearing completion after almost five years in development, is a 60,000sq ft, four storey building on the edge of the city's financial district.
Designers have tried to create a care-free, light-hearted space with five bars, a dining area and a spa room.
Playful touches are everywhere: One of the bars has ping pong tables while the frosted floor to the glass elevator turns clear when it descends.
Mr Birch added: 'Anything childish is my idea. One rule we set ourselves since selling{Bebo} is that we shouldn't do anything in life that we didn't think was going to be fun.'
Michael and Xochi Birch were major players in the development of the online social networking phenomenon, but their latest project has definitely gone offline.
The husband and wife team were the founders of the Bebo website, a rival to Facebook, which at its peak was the biggest social networking website in the UK and the third most popular in the world.
The couple netted a staggering £850m when they sold the site to AOL in 2008 after which its popularity waned.
Back to the future: Bebo Founder Michael Birch at his new San Fransisco members-only club The Battery
The Battery in San Fransisco was inspired by the new wave of London members' clubs founded from about 1980 onwards such as the Groucho, Soho House and The Hospital Club.
The Birches believe they have stumbled on a niche market, as while San Fransisco is awash with fine restaurants there are absolutely no members clubs.
They feel that by making the club members-only it will have the potential to create real-word friendships in a similar way to how social websites do online.
The Birches sold Bebo to AOL for $850m
Mr Birch told the Financial Times: 'Despite being an incredibly advanced city entrepreneurially
and in every other way, San Fransisco is quite behind socially.
'What we want to do is have a diversity - we want tech to be the minority, not the majority. The normal topic of conversations should not start with your new app.'
The Battery, which is nearing completion after almost five years in development, is a 60,000sq ft, four storey building on the edge of the city's financial district.
Designers have tried to create a care-free, light-hearted space with five bars, a dining area and a spa room.
Playful touches are everywhere: One of the bars has ping pong tables while the frosted floor to the glass elevator turns clear when it descends.
Mr Birch added: 'Anything childish is my idea. One rule we set ourselves since selling{Bebo} is that we shouldn't do anything in life that we didn't think was going to be fun.'