College students raise $5.1M for AI social network in iMessage
Original: Two college kids raise a $5.1 million pre-seed to build an AI social network in iMessage
Why This Matters
Represents next-generation AI-first social networking approach targeting younger users
Yale students Nathaneo Johnson and Sean Hargrow raised $5.1 million pre-seed funding for Series, an AI-powered social networking platform that operates entirely through iMessage, connecting users based on shared interests and goals.
Series, founded by Yale seniors Nathaneo Johnson and Sean Hargrow, operates as a social network within iMessage where users text a phone number explaining who they are and who they want to connect with. The AI responds with 'shares' - carousels of 10 images showing other users seeking similar connections. Users can start private conversations without sharing personal numbers. The funding round included investors like Venmo co-founder Iqram Magdon-Ismail, Pear VC, Reddit CEO Steve Huffman, and GPTZero founder Edward Tian. Johnson, studying computer science and economics, sees the industry shifting from user interfaces to conversation interfaces. The founders met through Yale Entrepreneurial Society's podcast and went through multiple iterations before settling on the current concept in March 2025, building a team of eight employees.