A New Approach to Social Networking

Two Yale students, Nathaneo Johnson and Sean Hargrow, are building a new kind of social networking platform powered by artificial intelligence. Their platform, which they named Series, aims to establish authentic relationships between users instead of helping them gain more followers.

Funding and Investor Support

The startup has raised $5.1 million in pre-seed funding. The funding network includes Venmo co-founder Iqram Magdon-Ismail and Pear VC and Reddit CEO Steve Huffman and GPTZerofounder Edward Tian. The funding will enable the company to expand its team and develop better products.

How the Platform Works

The Series application functions differently than conventional applications. Users control the application through their iMessage platform instead of using conventional interface methods. Users send a message to describe their identity and their desired meeting companion. The AI system generates connection suggestions which users can view through swipeable card displays.

Each card shows a person’s photo and request. Users can start conversations directly within the platform without sharing personal phone numbers. The system operates to create a networking process which exists in complete private mode.

Inspiration Behind the Idea

The founders developed the concept after realizing the importance of "warm introductions" while interviewing entrepreneurs. They wanted to create a platform that replicates these valuable connections at scale.

Johnson, who studies computer science and economics, believes the tech industry is moving toward conversational interfaces like chat-based systems. The Series was designed according to this idea.

Unique Marketing Strategy

The company used an unconventional marketing approach by launching a reality show called "The Series" on Twitch in 2025. This helped build awareness and community around the platform.

Balancing Startup and Education

The two startup founders who operate their business work their way through their studies at Yale University. The team handles their academic responsibilities while they execute their duties as leaders of an expanding team which now consists of eight members.

Johnson teaches people to spend their available time on activities which will help them reach their important life objectives.

Future Plans

The company plans to use its funding to hire engineers and expand features. The company plans to maintain its operations on the East Coast because this approach has become common among startups.