When the team at Partiful first discussed adding chat, they weren't sure they wanted to do it at all.
"We felt like messaging was a really hard space," recalls Amadou Camara, Product Engineer at Partiful. "There's iMessage, there's Messenger. We didn't want to just build another platform for people to message when they can already do that elsewhere."
But as Partiful grew, a pattern emerged. Event hosts wanted to thank guests after parties. Guests wanted to tell hosts they couldn't make it or share that they were bringing a friend. Those simple, human moments didn't have a place inside the app.
That realization changed everything.
About Partiful
Partiful is a modern event-hosting platform built to bring people together in real life. It makes it effortless to create events, collect RSVPs, and keep friends connected, before, during, and after the party. Think Facebook Events or Paperless Post, but reimagined for a new generation that values authenticity, simplicity, and fun.
Challenge: Building Connection Without Distraction
At its core, Partiful isn't about keeping people online, it's about helping them get offline. That guiding principle made messaging a difficult decision.
"We didn't want to create another endless chat feed," says Camara. "We wanted messaging to enhance the real-world experience, not replace it."
The team saw organic signals that users wanted to communicate. Before chat even existed, Partiful offered Boops, emoji-based nudges users could send to one another.
"People would send a coffee emoji trying to say, 'let's grab coffee,' but they had no real way to say it in words," Camara explains.
It was clear: their users craved meaningful, contextual communication. They just needed the right tool to make it happen.
Solution: Contextual Messaging with Stream Chat
Partiful chose Stream Chat to quickly bring in-app messaging to life without losing the lightweight, playful feel that defined their brand. Stream's APIs and SDKs provided the foundation for secure, scalable, and customizable communication right out of the box.
"Stream made it really easy to build something that feels very Partiful," says Camara. "We could customize chat so it wasn't generic. It felt native to our app and brand."
The team designed messaging intentionally. New users can't message right away; chat only unlocks after they RSVP or attend an event. That way, conversations always happen in context, with real people, around real events.
"We don't push users to message during onboarding," Camara adds. "It's not about keeping people online; it's about deepening the connection they've already started in real life."
Implementation: Experimenting with Real-Time Engagement
Once Stream Chat was live, Partiful began experimenting with chat-based nudges to make communication more natural.
For example, when a guest invites a friend to an event, that invite now appears as a message rather than a generic push notification.
"It feels more personal," says Camara. "Instead of the app telling you to come to a party, it's your friend inviting you."
That small shift didn't change RSVP metrics, but it did spark more conversations. People started talking about events, not just attending them, which deepened engagement and community.
Partiful also relies on Stream's AI Moderation to keep communication safe and respectful.
"We take user privacy and safety very seriously," Camara explains. "Stream's moderation tools make it simple to ensure that users feel comfortable communicating in-app."
Results: Messaging That Multiplies Retention
The data confirmed what Partiful believed: real communication drives real loyalty.
- Users who send at least one message have double the retention rate of those who send none.
- Users who receive a reply are 2-3× more likely to message again.
"When someone gets a response, it's validating," says Camara. "They feel like they're part of something. That's the moment it becomes a community."
This feedback loop, the moment one message sparks another, has become a key indicator of user satisfaction and platform health. Messaging is no longer just a feature; it's a reflection of how successfully Partiful connects people in real life.
Looking Ahead
A year into using Stream, Partiful's chat experience continues to evolve.
The team is preparing to launch web messaging, opening communication to their larger desktop user base. They're also exploring group chat, photo sharing, and richer media support, all powered by Stream.
"Stream handles the heavy lifting," says Camara. "It gives us confidence that we can scale messaging without worrying about infrastructure."
Partiful's approach to messaging will remain intentional: less about endless conversations, and more about meaningful touchpoints that make every in-person connection feel easier, warmer, and more human.
"You shouldn't build another vanilla chat," Camara reflects. "The best messaging is the kind that fits naturally into what your product already does well. For us, that's helping people connect in real life, and Stream made that possible."
Key Takeaways
- Messaging users have 2× higher retention than non-messaging users
- Replies drive 2-3× more engagement in conversation loops
- Stream Chat enabled fast customization, reliable scale, and integrated moderation
- Messaging became a core utility that strengthens Partiful's product-led growth
"Stream made it easy to build something that feels deeply personal to our users, and that's what Partiful is all about."