Yayem, an experiential learning platform for hybrid professionals and teams, has launched their mobile app today, and raised $2M to power global expansion. The startup was Cofounded by early Uber executives Lindsey Elkin and Nicolas Buteau. Yayem’s CEO Buteau was in Uber’s first 100 employees and himself is an active angel investor in LGBTQ+ founders and POC.

Top angel investors in this seed round include Cleo Sham, former Partner at Stride VC, Alon Lits, former Head of Sub-Saharan Africa at Uber and now Founder and CEO of Panda Health, Robbie Khazzam, former Head of Uber Canada and now CEO of Float, Meg Donovan, Global Marketing Leader, ex Uber and Masterclass Executive, Lyle Adams, Founder and CEO of Spry, and lastly Kim Durand, Founder and CEO of Cheaf.  

Yayem’s newly launched digital product serves as a passport for physical spaces, learning opportunities and a network of global professionals, and digital nomads. The platform seeks to make the world feel limitless and like home. With hundreds of paying members already in global cities like London, Lisbon, Mexico City, Cape Town and NYC, the network is redefining work and play for millions of educated urbanites in a ‘hybrid’ world.  

Curated experiences keep members inspired and constantly learning and growing; and product features like “Em” — a new age AI concierge meets non-romantic “matchmaker” makes the world smaller through smart introductions and time-saving hacks. The Yayem platform also grants access to physical spaces around the world. At time of launch, this includes Yayem’s country home in Portugal, The Curtain Club in London, Aethos Club in Milan, and more to come. 

Yayem launches in response to a post pandemic world, where the rise in “quiet quitting”, remote working, and digital nomadism demonstrates a blurring between work, travel and life, along with a desire for people to find connection and community through new avenues. In addition, and at its core, authentic diversity has been a key element of the startup’s DNA.

Cofounder and CEO Nicolas Buteau:

“We couldn’t be more excited to launch during Pride Month, with Yayem celebrations happening around the world. Just this past Tuesday, we took members on a private tour of Queer Britain – with London and visiting members joining us to learn, engage and connect. As a gay, black CEO, it was important to build Yayem with strong principles of diversity and inclusion  — we are proud of the diversity of our initial founding member base, and plan to keep growing with these principles top of mind.”