Paresh Masade, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Vaave, said the platform’s transition to Hoopstr aims to transform alumni communities into active ecosystems supporting mentorship, internships and lifelong learning across institutions worldwide.
Alumni engagement platforms are increasingly evolving from simple database management tools into broader learning ecosystems connecting graduates, institutions and industry. Reflecting this shift, Hyderabad based alumni platform Vaave has announced its rebrand as Hoopstr.
The new identity signals the company’s expansion from alumni management services into a platform designed to activate alumni networks as contributors to mentorship, career guidance and real world learning.
Founded in 2011, the platform currently works with more than 1,200 educational institutions and connects over 4.9 million alumni across 28 countries. Through its digital tools, Hoopstr enables institutions to build stronger alumni communities through mentorship programmes, networking opportunities and collaborative learning initiatives.
The company has also secured its first external funding of INR 6.6 crore from Aditya Vuchi of VCMint and Raj Narayanam, Founder and Executive Chairman of Zaggle, through RAN Ventures. The platform is planning to raise a Pre Series A round to expand its ecosystem offerings and scale operations.
Hoopstr currently operates with a team of around 80 people and aims to significantly expand its reach in the coming months. The company is targeting engagement with 2,500 leading institutions in India within the next eighteen months, nearly doubling its current network.
Beyond networking, the platform is also working toward building structured career opportunities through alumni participation. Over the next three years, Hoopstr plans to generate around 10,000 internships and facilitate scholarships worth approximately INR 100 crore for students in collaboration with selected institutions.
Paresh Masade, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Vaave, said, “Education should not end at graduation and alumni relationships should extend beyond occasional reunions. Hoopstr is designed to create a continuous loop where alumni experiences flow back into learning communities, helping institutions stay connected with real world knowledge and opportunities.
The platform aims to achieve this through a structured approach focused on three key areas. The first stage focuses on reviving inactive alumni databases by using digital onboarding tools and engagement initiatives to reconnect graduates with their institutions.
The second stage centres on integrating alumni expertise into academic environments through advisory boards, industry surveys and guest lectures. This approach allows institutions to incorporate real world insights into curriculum development and student learning experiences.
The third stage focuses on sustaining engagement through mentorship programmes, job boards, webinars and professional development opportunities designed for alumni at different stages of their careers.
Through these initiatives, the company aims to transform alumni networks into long term communities supporting career growth, industry connections and knowledge sharing.
By connecting institutions with their alumni in a more structured and continuous manner, Hoopstr seeks to strengthen the role of alumni networks in shaping future ready learning environments.
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