London-based British tech start-up, Guild, today announced they support interpersonal messaging between professionals for free.

Guild launched in November 2018 but has only been available so far to organisations running messaging groups and communities. Users include Deloitte, The Institute of Directors, Norfolk Liberal Democrats, Wunderman Thompson, Creative England and Cambridge University Judge Business School.

In a move to compete directly with the professional use of WhatsApp, Guild now allows individuals to connect and message each other via the app. This is free whilst businesses who want custom-branded groups, support, compliance features, admin and analytics pay an annual fee.

Over 40% of WhatsApp users use it for professional purposes according to recent research with over 1,200 UK professionals. This is despite WhatsApp prohibiting non-personal use in its legal terms. For businesses, consumer messaging apps like WhatsApp pose even greater challenges as they do not comply with privacy and data legislation like GDPR nor other legal requirements around record keeping.

Guild believes professionals will choose to use Guild instead of WhatsApp for any professional messaging. Ashley Friedlein, CEO & Founder, comments:

“Guild is designed from the ground up for professional use. It is properly private, there are no ads, and everyone has a professional profile so you know who people are. Guild is a safe place for business where you can have conversations that matter."

Research from Facebook, Microsoft and others shows the huge growth in the use of messaging at work and for business, particularly amongst younger professionals. Users want apps that are easy to use but many also want to keep their work and personal lives more separate.
Enterprise messaging tools like Microsoft Teams and Slack are for teams and workflow communication. Unlike Guild, they are not for interpersonal communication between professionals. Friedlein continues:

"We have professional connections we particularly value - our ‘little black book’ of contacts. You can now invite them to connect with you on Guild so you can message each other in complete privacy.”

A recent survey of over 2,000 UK LinkedIn users revealed the site is seen as being for marketing, contact management and jobs rather than networking. A staggering 90% of those surveyed did not disagree that LinkedIn is now more for managing contacts that networking and only 18% disagree that LinkedIn has become more about sales and marketing. Almost 60% agreed that LinkedIn is mostly about recruitment - hiring or finding a job.

Guild plans to fill this need for higher value, higher quality, professional networking but as a mobile-first messaging app designed to meet the specific needs of professionals and the various legal and compliance requirements demanded of businesses.

Guild is available on iOS and Android but also has a web version for desktop and laptop use. Guild can be downloaded for free from Apple's App Store or Google Play or you join online at https://guild.co

For more information, visit: https://guild.co/

-ENDS-
Press contact: 
guild@hotwireglobal.com
+44 20 7608 2500

About Guild
Guild is an app designed for professionals and businesses who want the simplicity and ease-of-use of a consumer messaging app, but with the privacy, legal compliance, control, sophistication and service you’d expect for business.

It has an ad-free, business and enterprise subscription funded business model. Guild is a safe space for professionals to connect, communicate and collaborate to progress their careers and build valuable networks.