YALE STUDENTS RAISE $3M IN 14 DAYS FOR "ANTI-FACEBOOK" STARTUP

LATEST DEVELOPMENT

Two 21-year-old Yale juniors secure $3 million in venture funding for Series, an AI-powered networking platform designed to facilitate meaningful connections through personalized "AI friends."

INDUSTRY TALK

FOUNDERS BACKSTORY

Key team insights:

• Nathaneo Johnson (computer science/economics major)

• Sean Hargrow (neuroscience major)

• Hosts of The Founder Series podcast

• Both identified luck as critical factor in startup success

• Self-described as "6'5", Black and technical"

PLATFORM INNOVATION

Series differentiates through:

• AI agents trained via iMessage to understand user needs

• Focus on private introductions versus public content

• Emphasis on authentic connections over curated personas

• Direct matching with mentors, investors, or friends

• Network-based "engineered luck" approach

FUNDRAISING JOURNEY

Capital acquisition involved:

• Pivotal meeting with Anne Lee Skates (lead investor)

• Spontaneous California trip for "million-dollar dinner"

• Two-week whirlwind Bay Area VC tour

• Yale network providing critical access

• Cold emails transforming into warm introductions

THE BOTTOM LINE

As two young Black founders in tech, Johnson and Hargrow aren't just building a networking platform, but challenging existing social networking paradigms by creating an AI-driven system that prioritizes meaningful human connection over metrics and content broadcasting.