Trendy audio-based social app Clubhouse today said it has raised even more venture capital funding at a time that Facebook Inc. is reportedly about to go after it.

Exactly how much Clubhouse raised in its Series C round was not disclosed by the company. The round was led by Andrew Chen at a16z and included DST Global, Tiger Global and Elad Gil. According to Reuters, it was raised on a $4 billion valuation, the same valuation at which Twitter Inc. was reported earlier this month to have been in talks to acquire the company.

Founded in March 2020, Clubhouse is an audio-based social app that allows users to join group chats spontaneously. On its Apple App Store page, it describes itself as a “space for casual, drop-in audio conversations — with friends and other interesting people around the world.”

It’s April 2021 and roughly around 87% of the world uses Android, but Clubhouse still doesn’t have an Android app and it’s still invite-only. That’s perfectly fine according to the company, however, because Clubhouse pitches itself as having a focus on diversity and inclusion. Arguably that focus is on people rich enough to buy an iPhone, an Apple Inc. device that many in the world can’t afford to buy.

“It’s important to us to be building all of this with people who are invested in the community and who represent a diverse set of backgrounds and voices,” Clubhouse said with no sense of irony in a blog post today. “Our investor base now spans nearly 200 creators, angels and funds — including members of the Clubhouse community, institutional investors, professional musicians, athletes and comedians, and many who you might not have heard of outside of Clubhouse.”

Still, the app arguably has a similar level of buzz that Twitter had when it debuted, though Twitter could be used through a browser without having to spend money on an iPhone. As a result, Clubhouse has drawn the attention of Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook Inc.

According to a report today from Vox, Facebook is planning to announce a series of products under the umbrella of “social audio” on Monday. The audio plans include an audio-only version of Rooms, Facebook’s videoconferencing product; a Clubhouse-like product that will let groups of people listen to and interact with speakers on a virtual stage; a product that will let Facebook users record brief voice messages and post then on their newsfeeds; and a podcast delivery product that will be connected with Spotify Technology SA.

Facebook had previously been testing the audio-focused market with a product called “Hotline” that allows creators to speak and take live questions.

According to data from Crunchbase, Clubhouse has raised $110 million before this round. Investors include Andreessen Horowitz and Kortschak Investments.

Image: Clubhouse