AI Social Network Series Raises $5.1M Pre-Seed Funding

A novel approach to social networking, built entirely within the iMessage ecosystem, has attracted significant early-stage investment. Series, a platform designed to facilitate connections through conversational AI, announced a $5.1 million pre-seed funding round. This capital infusion was backed by a notable group of investors, including Venmo co-founder Iqram Magdon-Ismail, Pear VC, Reddit CEO Steve Huffman, and GPTZero founder Edward Tian.

Founded by Yale seniors Nathaneo Johnson and Sean Hargrow, Series positions itself as a next-generation social network rather than solely an AI application. The platform operates by allowing users to text a dedicated Series AI number via iMessage. Users describe their connection goals, and the AI responds with a curated carousel of up to ten user profiles, each featuring a photo and their stated objective. This "share" feature enables users to initiate private conversations by long-pressing a profile, bypassing the need to exchange personal contact information directly.

This funding round underscores investor confidence in AI-native consumer applications and the potential of conversational interfaces to redefine user interaction. CEO Nathaneo Johnson, who studies computer science and economics, highlighted a significant industry shift from traditional graphical user interfaces to more dynamic, conversational AI experiences, drawing parallels to the evolution from search engines to advanced chatbots. This AI-first mindset from inception is seen as a key advantage for young founders navigating the rapidly evolving tech landscape.

The genesis of Series stems from the founders' realization of the power of "warm connections" during their time interviewing business leaders for a podcast at Yale. This insight led them to develop an AI-driven facilitator for such connections. After exploring multiple concepts, they refined the current iteration of Series and began fundraising in March 2025, assembling a team of eight. Notably, both Johnson and Hargrow, who studied neuroscience, have continued their studies at Yale, demonstrating a commitment to balancing academic pursuits with entrepreneurial endeavors.

The platform has recently expanded beyond its initial college user base, targeting Gen Z and young professionals. While many users leverage Series for professional networking, its utility extends to finding friends and even dating. The company reports an impressive 82% Day 30 retention rate among activated users, a metric that surpasses early benchmarks set by established social media giants. This strong engagement suggests a compelling product-market fit, particularly within the younger demographic.

With the new funding, Series plans to bolster its engineering team and enhance its product offerings. The company intends to remain on the East Coast, operating from an office in New York City, aligning with a growing trend of consumer tech startups choosing the city over Silicon Valley. This strategic decision reflects a belief in the burgeoning tech scene in areas like Silicon Alley. The company's success, including a viral LinkedIn launch video that helped secure their first investor, showcases an innovative go-to-market strategy.