IMVU

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Online 3D social platform

title: "IMVU" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["virtual-world-communities", "windows-instant-messaging-clients", "american-companies-established-in-2004", "technology-companies-established-in-2004", "2004-establishments-in-california", "companies-based-in-redwood-city,-california"] description: "Online 3D social platform" topic_path: "technology/operating-systems" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IMVU" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Online 3D social platform ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox company"]

FieldValue
logoIMVU logo.png
typeprivate
industrySocial network
founded
founderWill Harvey, Eric Ries, Marcus Gosling, Matt Danzig
defunct
hq_location_cityRedwood City, California
hq_location_countryU.S.
key_peopleDaren Tsui (CEO)
num_employees200
num_employees_year
website
::

| name = | logo = IMVU logo.png | type = private | industry = Social network | founded = | founder = Will Harvey, Eric Ries, Marcus Gosling, Matt Danzig | defunct = | hq_location_city = Redwood City, California | hq_location_country = U.S. | key_people = Daren Tsui (CEO) | products = | num_employees = 200 | num_employees_year = | parent = | website = IMVU (, stylized as imvu) is an online virtual world and social networking site.

History

IMVU was founded in 2004 and was originally backed by venture investors Menlo Ventures, AllegisCyber Capital, Justin Greene, Bridgescale Partners, and Best Buy Capital.

IMVU members use 3D avatars to meet new people, chat, create, and play games. In 2014, IMVU had approximately six million active players, and had the largest virtual goods catalog of more than 6 million items as of 2011. The business was previously located in Mountain View, California.

The company name was neither an acronym nor an initialism. IMVU co-founder Eric Ries described the accidental process by which the company acquired its meaningless name, and stated "It's not an acronym; it doesn't stand for anything", though he did note the name was originally used because the IM aspect invoked instant messaging, something the company wanted to be associated with.

In March 2020, IMVU introduced Live Rooms, a feature enabling users to host live events such as fashion shows, lectures, talk shows, and virtual weddings, allowing audience interaction and tipping.

In 2022, IMVU partnered with Spectrum Labs to use artificial intelligence that identifies and rewards healthy behavior in online interactions.

Credits

IMVU operates a virtual economy based on its proprietary digital currency known as credits, which users can purchase with real money or obtain through various in-platform activities. Credits are used to buy virtual goods such as clothing, furniture, and accessories created by other users for their 3D avatars.

The platform also supports a creator-driven marketplace, where designers sell digital items and earn credits that can be converted to real-world value through IMVU’s reseller program. In 2021, IMVU partnered with the digital finance platform Uphold to allow users to convert their in-platform currency, VCOIN, into real-world money. VCOIN is a blockchain-based digital currency and the first of its kind to receive a no-action letter from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, providing it with regulatory clarity.

References

References

  1. (30 March 2018). "The future world of "Ready Player One" has already begun - SFChronicle.com".
  2. (2012-09-21). "Inside IMVU". YouTube.
  3. Phelps, Nicole. (2021-05-11). "The Metaverse’s First Runway Show Is Here—Watch Collina Strada, Bruce Glen, My Mum Made It, and Mowalola’s IMVU Debut".
  4. Liao, Rita. (2021-01-25). "Virtual social network IMVU raises $35M from China's NetEase and others".
  5. [http://www.imvu.com/about/ "About: IMVU"] {{Webarchive. link. (2018-05-03, IMVU website)
  6. "IMVU Information". Imvu.com.
  7. (2011-03-11). "IMVU Games Taking Advantage of Strong Growth". Insidesocialgames.com.
  8. (2004-09-16). "Instant Messaging Goes Graphical". Wired.
  9. (2011-01-31). "IMVU Announces Growth, Promotion". Engage Digital.
  10. "IMVU Inc - Company Profile and News".
  11. "Board of Directors - IMVU Information".
  12. "Inspiring women in Technology: Audrea Mills (Author of The Lean Startup)". YouTube.
  13. Takahashi, Dean. (2020-03-04). "IMVU launches Live Rooms for hosting fashion shows, lectures, weddings and more". [[VentureBeat]].
  14. Takahashi, Dean. (2022-09-08). "Spectrum Labs teams with IMVU to use AI to identify healthy online behavior".
  15. (April 30, 2010). "IMVU’s Virtual Cash Cow: Doubling Revenues, Focused On Gaming". TechCrunch.
  16. Harrison, Polly Jean. (2021-02-20). "IMVU & Uphold Partnership Could Be a Game-Changer for Virtual World Currencies".
  17. (2022-03-30). "TIME100 Most Influential Companies 2022: Together Labs". Time.

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

virtual-world-communitieswindows-instant-messaging-clientsamerican-companies-established-in-2004technology-companies-established-in-20042004-establishments-in-californiacompanies-based-in-redwood-city,-california