Yale Students Raise $5.1 Million for Series, an iMessage-Based Social Network for Gen Z

Series, a startup founded by Yale students Nathaneo Johnson and Sean Hargrow, has successfully raised $5.1 million in pre-seed funding to develop its unique social networking platform. The app is designed specifically for Generation Z and operates entirely within iMessage, aiming to blend the intimacy of text messaging with professional networking opportunities. Unlike traditional platforms like LinkedIn or Tinder, Series sends users curated profiles of potential connections directly to their inbox, allowing for private interactions before sharing direct contact information. The recent funding round included notable investors such as Venmo cofounder Iqram Magdon-Ismail, Reddit CEO Steve Huffman, and venture firms like Pear VC and Uncommon Projects. The founders plan to use the capital to expand their engineering team and scale the network's density. While initially branded broadly as an AI social network, Series has pivoted to focus more narrowly on professional connections for young people. The company is now preparing for a larger seed round, targeting eight figures, to further compete with emerging AI-driven networking tools and established giants.