Yale grads raise $5.1M for AI-powered iMessage networking

Series, a novel social networking application, has successfully raised $5.1 million in a pre-seed funding round. Investors include notable figures like Venmo co-founder Iqram Magdon-Ismail and Reddit CEO Steve Huffman. Founded in early 2025 by Yale seniors Nathaneo Johnson and Sean Hargrow, Series operates entirely through iMessage, positioning itself as a next-generation conversational interface.

Users interact with Series AI via text on iMessage, specifying their connection goals. The AI then provides "shares"—carousels of user profiles and their requests—allowing for seamless introductions. Users can initiate private chats directly from these carousels without revealing personal contact information.

The company's AI-first approach is a key advantage in the current tech landscape, marked by rapid AI advancements. Johnson believes the industry is shifting from user interfaces to conversational ones, akin to the evolution from Google Search to ChatGPT.

Series aims to foster "warm connections," a concept born from the founders' early experiences. After multiple iterations, they launched their fundraising in March 2025 and built a team of eight. A viral LinkedIn video about their launch helped attract their first investor within two days.

While initially targeting college students across over 750 campuses, Series now serves Gen Z and professionals, with most users seeking business connections, though dating and friendships are also common. The platform boasts an 82% Day 30 retention rate, exceeding early Facebook benchmarks.

Funding will support engineering hires and product expansion. The company, already operating from Chelsea, New York, plans to remain on the East Coast, aligning with a trend of young consumer founders favoring New York over Silicon Valley. Notably, Johnson and Hargrow are continuing their studies at Yale.