Whisper
Whisper was an anonymous social network and messaging mobile app founded in 2012 by Michael Heyward and Brad Brooks (under WhisperText LLC) that let users share confessions, secrets, and thoughts overlaid on images without identifiable profiles. At peak the app drew tens of millions of monthly users and partnered with media outlets on user-generated content. After persistent moderation, privacy, and child-safety issues (including a 2020 data exposure of roughly 900 million records), the company was rolled into holding company MediaLab in October 2019. App store removals across 2022-2025 culminated in the app being permanently discontinued in July 2025.
Acquired
Whisper has been acquired
This company is no longer available on our private secondary market.
Overview
Company data and valuation marks are estimates and may be incomplete, stale, erroneous, or revised.
Founded
2012
Employees
11–50
Total Funding
$61M
4 rounds
Latest Valuation
$0.07B
2016
Funding
Total raised $61M across 4 rounds
Funding data and valuation marks are estimates and may be incomplete, stale, erroneous, or revised.
Last updated 06-25-2026
Latest Round
Type
Series C Extension
Date
2016
Amount
$1M
Valuation
—
Lead Investors
| Date | Round | Amount Raised | Valuation | Lead Investors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Series C Extension | $1M | — | Tencent |
| May 19, 2014 | Series C | $36M | — | Shasta Ventures |
| September 4, 2013 | Series B | $21M | — | Sequoia Capital |
Prominent Investors
Leadership
Michael Heyward
Co-Founder & CEO
Brad Brooks
Co-Founder
Competitors
Competitor list is illustrative and may be incomplete, stale, or erroneous.
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