Series: Revolutionizing Social Networking through iMessage
Series, a social networking app, recently announced that it has raised a $5.1 million pre-seed funding round. The investment includes contributions from notable figures such as Venmo co-founder Iqram Magdon-Ismail, Pear VC, Reddit CEO Steve Huffman, and GPTZero founder Edward Tian. The company was founded early last year by Yale students Nathaneo Johnson and Sean Hargrow, who are currently seniors at the university.
The Vision behind Series
Series positions itself as a next-generation social networking platform, distinct from typical AI apps, and prides itself on operating entirely through iMessage, according to Johnson, the CEO, in an interview with TechCrunch. This innovative approach aims to simplify social interactions by leveraging a familiar communication tool.
How Series Works
Users engage with Series by texting a designated phone number (Series AI) on iMessage, introducing themselves and defining the connections they seek. Series AI responds by presenting users with “shares” — a carousel of 10 images showcasing posts from others who are using Series AI for similar connection purposes. Each carousel card features a user’s photo and their request, allowing for private conversations within the Series AI chat without sharing personal phone numbers.
Founders’ Journey and Industry Context
Johnson, who is pursuing studies in computer science and economics, is navigating a unique era in tech history, characterized by rapid advancements in AI and unprecedented investor interest. He represents a new wave of young entrepreneurs whose businesses are AI-centric from the outset, a factor that investors believe gives them an advantage over established industry players attempting to adapt.
Johnson envisions a significant technological shift from traditional user interfaces to conversational interfaces, akin to the transition from Google search to tools like ChatGPT, where users engage in dialogues with AI to swiftly access desired information.
The Genesis of Series
Johnson and Hargrow crossed paths while working on a podcast during their freshman year at the Yale Entrepreneurial Society. Through interviews with founders and CEOs, they recognized the transformative power of warm connections. This realization inspired them to incorporate a company based on facilitating such connections using AI.
“We then proceeded our freshman summer to start a business independent from the club and incorporate a company around that same thesis, using AI as a warm connection facilitator,” Johnson said. He and Hargrow, who studied neuroscience at Yale, went through multiple iterations of what is now Series. When they landed on a concept they liked, about a year after their first prototype, they began fundraising for it in March 2025, building a team of eight in the process.
Market Reception and Expansion Plans
The platform, initially popular among college students, has now expanded its reach, targeting both Gen Z and professionals. While business networking is a primary use case, Series has also found applications in dating and friendship-building. “Students use Series across more than 750 campuses,” Johnson said. “Activated users on Series retain at 82% through Day 30, higher than early Facebook’s benchmark.”
Competitors in this space include Boardy AI, which similarly leverages AI for network introductions.
Future Prospects for Series
The fresh influx of capital will be directed towards hiring additional engineers and enhancing product capabilities. Post-graduation, the company plans to maintain its East Coast presence, operating out of an office in Chelsea, New York. Johnson cites the strong network they’ve established among Ivy League institutions and their belief in Silicon Alley as reasons for staying in the region.
Remarkably, both Johnson and Hargrow continue their academic pursuits at Yale. Despite the challenges of balancing exams and essays with running a company, Johnson believes in utilizing extra time to pursue one’s true calling, stating, “Your extra time outside of your supposed obligation can be used to catapult what you’re truly meant to do.”
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