Jagat, a social network with a twist, has officially reached a whopping 10 million users around the world. Unlike traditional social media platforms that encourage mindless scrolling, Jagat is all about bringing people together in real life. Launched just a few months ago in March, this location-based network is focused on helping users foster genuine connections and make new friends.
The startup is based in Singapore and Indonesia, and was founded by Jagat President Barry Beagen and CEO Loy Xing Zhe. The pair met in December 2021 when Beagen was advising the Government of Indonesia on policies regarding the digital economy and Zhe was working on a GameFi product focused on web3, social and gaming.
Beagen and Zhe, both driven by a shared vision of taking on the dominance of big tech, were also tired of the passive nature of mainstream social media. They wanted to build something from Southeast Asia that could truly compete on a global scale. Their motivation came from a desire to explore the world and connect with new people in spontaneous, authentic ways – whether it be for a hike, concert, or simple walk.
And so, Jagat was born. With an interactive map interface, users can keep track of their friends’ locations in real-time and discover new people and activities nearby. The concept may seem similar to Snap-owned Zenly, a social map app that shut down last year. However, Jagat offers unique features that set it apart.
Your social map is the first thing you see upon opening Jagat. This is where you can see where your friends are, follow their real-time updates, and even record your own adventures. You can also tap on your friends’ avatars to send them messages, stickers, or updates. Beagen and Zhe see the map as the primary way to connect with others and discover exciting activities and events happening around you.
Jagat is constantly evolving and expanding its features. One upcoming feature aims to rival Facebook Groups by allowing users to organize local events and find people with similar interests. Another lets users explore beyond their local community by discovering different communities around the world.
“We want to bring back social in social apps – focusing on social networking and not media,” Beagen said. “We want to be about people, not posts. We’re made for your close friends, for discovering new friends and for getting people out more in real life as opposed to scrolling for entertainment.”
And it seems Gen Z has caught on to Jagat’s unique approach. 85% of the app’s active users are part of this generation. Since its launch, Jagat has quickly gained popularity in countries like Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam, Spain, France, and Singapore. Beagen notes that the app’s appeal is universal and that they will continue to focus on the next generation.
Although Jagat has recently closed a successful Series A funding round, the exact amount raised has not been disclosed. Looking ahead, the startup envisions becoming the “default app for the next generation.” Beagen explains, “We believe that social apps should fulfill their promise of making real genuine connections and getting people to connect in real life. In the meantime, we’re focused on building new exciting features and continuing to build our community. We also believe what we’re building, augmenting social experiences on a map, can power a new generation of creators and businesses worldwide.”
