Series raises $5.1 million pre-seed funding for AI social network expansion

6 articles · Updated · TechCrunch · Apr 24

Investors include Venmo co-founder Iqram Magdon-Ismail, Pear VC, Reddit CEO Steve Huffman, and GPTZero founder Edward Tian, supporting Yale student founders Nathaneo Johnson and Sean Hargrow.
Series operates entirely through iMessage, connecting users via AI-driven carousels, and reports 82% Day 30 retention across 750+ college campuses. The new funds will help hire engineers and expand product capabilities.
The company, based in New York and founded in 2025, targets Gen Z and professionals, reflecting a trend of young founders building AI-first startups and choosing Silicon Alley over Silicon Valley.

Can two college seniors build the next social network while still attending classes?

Is the app's high retention a sign of real value or just the latest Gen Z novelty?

How will an AI networker make money without selling out its users?

Is building on iMessage a brilliant moat or a trap in Apple's walled garden?

Can an AI create authentic connections or just a more efficient social bubble?