Series AI Social Network for Gen Z Raises $5.1M

Get ready for the next big thing in social networking! Series, an innovative AI-powered platform designed specifically for Gen Z, has just closed a significant $5.1 million pre-seed funding round. This impressive sum was raised by its founders, Yale students Nathaneo Johnson and Sean Hargrow, who launched the venture in 2024.

What is Series?

Series isn’t your typical social network. It’s described as the first AI social platform built directly on iMessage. This unique approach taps into the messaging habits of Gen Z, aiming to create a highly engaging and professional networking space within an app they already use daily.

The platform has already shown incredible user engagement. In 2025, over 20,000 messages were exchanged within a single week. More recent data highlights its strong traction, with more than 750 active campuses utilizing the platform and an impressive user retention rate exceeding 83% – a figure that rivals, and even surpasses, Facebook’s early days.

A Landmark Funding Round

This $5.1 million pre-seed round is a major achievement, especially for Ivy League student founders. The funding round saw participation from notable investors, including Venmo co-founder Iqram Magdon-Ismail, Pear VC, Reddit CEO Steve Huffman, and GPTZero founder Edward Tian. This backing signifies strong confidence in Series’ vision and potential.

The founders shared insights into the funding journey, noting that initial offers were even higher, but they prioritized securing the right strategic partners. “We wanted to ensure we had the right backers on our first round,” Johnson explained, emphasizing their belief that iMessage is the future interface for social interaction.

Looking Ahead

With the pre-seed round successfully closed on April 24, 2026, Series is now officially opening its seed round. As Johnson and Hargrow prepare to graduate, they are focused on making history once again by scaling their innovative platform to a global audience. Their journey is a testament to the power of student entrepreneurship and cutting-edge AI technology.