Heylo

Heylo operates a platform for leaders of in-person groups and communities, combining event management, member communication and payment collection in a single product. Leaders can create events, collect RSVPs, take attendance, cap capacity with waitlists, and onboard new members through a single link that handles registration, waivers and payments. Member-facing features include profiles, icebreakers, attendee lists, topic- and event-based chats, and post-event photo sharing.

On the money side, groups can collect membership dues, event fees and donations, set up one-time or recurring payments, offer free trials, gate perks and sponsor content behind a membership paywall, and view dashboards covering attendance, payments and engagement. Distribution features include shareable event flyers and discoverability through Heylo's own search directory as well as external search surfaces. The product runs in any web browser, with iOS and Android apps for on-the-go event management. Group categories listed on Heylo's directory include running, social, women's, outdoors, fitness, professional, wellness, spiritual and reading groups.

Founding story

Co-founders Eric Winters and Brandon Pearcy met at Google, where both organized communities outside of work — Eric helped start a running group in San Francisco and later founded several groups including a volleyball club, while Brandon organized breakdancing, Muay Thai and beach volleyball groups. Eric joined Google in 2013 in corporate development after working on Wall Street from 2008 to 2013, and describes pursuing solo hobbies before concluding that what he lacked was community. Seeing how difficult it was for group leaders to run events, communicate with members and stay organized, the two built Heylo. The first version of the product was called Piccup; the founders renamed it after early testers said the name sounded like a dating app.

Business model

Core functionality — events, communications and payments — is offered free to groups. Heylo takes a service fee on payments processed through the platform, and sells paid plans that add features such as email blasts and forms for larger groups. A "For Brands" offering is listed on the site, and groups can showcase sponsors within their communities.

Service fee charged on payments collected by groups through the platform, plus subscription revenue from paid plans with additional features such as email blasts and forms.

Traction

Groups cited on Heylo's site include Rivian Clubs of America (35 U.S. city chapters, 900 active members), Midnight Runners (18 global chapters, 20,000 runners at events monthly), BLK Hiking Club in Atlanta (1,900 active members), Harlem Run in New York City (250 paid members), Mamma Swim in London (150 donating members) and Vibe Ride in Los Angeles (78% repeat attendees). Heylo reports a 4.9 average App Store rating. In a 2022 interview the founders described a profitable business built without outside capital.

Latest developments

The current site markets free events, communications and payments with paid tiers for email blasts and forms, a "For Brands" offering, a public group and event search directory, and headline metrics for event attendees, App Store rating and payments made to group leaders.