Startup Spotlight: Hyperconnect: 5 PM: Empty Desks, Work Continues

Hyperconnect is a global social platform company founded in 2014, based on video and AI technology. It operates the real-time video chat app 'Azar' and was acquired by the US Match Group, which owns Tinder, for approximately 2 trillion KRW in 2021. Their success is based on agility, technological prowess, and a unique organizational culture that turned accidental discoveries into inevitabilities. Azar's global expansion began when it was mistakenly set to 'all countries' during its App Store registration in 2014. At that time, unintended traffic surged in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, where network environments were unstable, and Hyperconnect's weapon shone. Its proprietary technology, 'Hyper RTC,' which optimized Google WebRTC for mobile, enabled stable video calls even in low-spec device environments. As soon as the company recognized this unexpected overseas demand, it immediately launched localized marketing campaigns, seizing the opportunity. Currently, Azar boasts over 400 million cumulative subscribers and more than 100 billion video chats, with 99% of its users being global customers. Approximately 350 people, including employees from brands under Match Group, work at the Samseong-dong headquarters. The corporate culture here is based on the belief that "Delight Drives Innovation." Office spaces that break down the boundaries between work and rest, such as Halloween events, embody the 'One team' value, maximizing creativity and engagement. The office, half-empty even at 5 PM, reflects a flexible hybrid work system that emphasizes 'Proactive' and 'Prioritize.' Employees define and execute their own tasks, working freely in various spaces such as cafes, healing zones, and game rooms. As befits a technology-centric company, over half of all employees are engineers. The AI organization reads papers and shares knowledge through a 'Learning Day' held once every two weeks, and the 'Literature survey' culture (reading 100 papers per problem) encourages in-depth learning. This learning culture has led to 15 international journal paper publications, 14 international conference presentations, and 280 global patent registrations. The internal technology sharing culture is also vibrant. Despite its size of 350 employees, Hyperconnect maintains the 'innovation DNA' of an early-stage startup. 'Squad'-centric operations enable PMs, developers, designers, data analysts, and business managers to form a team and proactively solve problems. A culture that doesn't blame failure but instead evolves through experimentation and improvement aligns with core values such as 'Aim High' and 'Open.' In a global collaborative environment, document-centric communication using tools like Slack and Notion, along with clear message delivery, is crucial. The company also invests generously in employee growth through language and job training support, mentoring programs, and more. Hyperconnect has grown into a global unicorn, serving 186 countries worldwide, thanks to the combination of agile responses to an accidentally discovered global market, unique mobile video technology, and an organizational culture that values learning and enjoyment. They proved the power of people who turn accidents into inevitabilities.