Chingari founders launch Fireside, an Indian alternative to Clubhouse

Founders of the Chingari app on Tuesday announced the launch of Fireside, a new audio-based social networking platform. The platform is available as a public beta on both iOS and Android.

The concept of Fireside is similar to the popular Clubhouse, which is so far available to iOS users only. Users can host live audio sessions on the platform. The interface is also similar to Clubhouse and Twitter’s spaces. Apart from basic audio-specific features, the platform also has a group feature. It’s like WhatsApp Groups but in a voice format. The platform will also be available in various Indian languages.

"The pandemic has imbued uncertainty and isolation, leaving people craving for human interaction. fireside enables users to listen to the voice of their loved ones by bridging emotional gaps, leaving them emotionally touched and connected. With a keen focus on building rich communities, fireside aims to cater to the Indian market with clubs and groups that are tailored to suit local needs and sensibilities,” says Sumit Ghosh, CEO & Co-Founder, fireside.

“To mirror the diversity of the country like ours, there needs to be an egalitarian social platform that is inclusive of folks who can barely read and write. With fireside, even those who are minimally literate, can open their ideas up for the world to hear,” adds Aditya Kothari, co-founder, fireside.

Audio-based social networking platforms, especially Clubhouse, are becoming increasingly popular globally. Despite being an iOS-exclusive, Clubhouse has gained a significant user base and valuation of about $4 billion within the first year of the launch. Clubhouse’s popularity has also prompted companies such as Twitter (Spaces) and Facebook to double down on their audio-based offerings. Apart from Twitter and Facebook, the likes of LinkedIn and Reddit are also building audio-driven products.

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In India, apps like Leher are trying to offer a desi alternative to Clubhouse. As far as Fireside goes, the platform will get a push from Chingari, which is an Indian alternative to TikTok.

What do you think about an Indian version of Clubhouse? Let us know.