Yale Juniors Raise $3.1M to Redefine Online Connection with AI

Two Yale juniors, Nathaneo Johnson and Sean Hargrow, are turning heads after raising $3.1 million in pre-seed funding for their AI-powered social network, Series. Unlike traditional platforms such as Facebook or LinkedIn, Series emphasizes purposeful, AI-assisted connections rather than follower counts and likes (Prosser, 2025).

From Podcast to Platform

Originally a podcast featuring Yale entrepreneurs, Series evolved into a chatbot that made curated introductions. Johnson and Hargrow saw the limitations of legacy social media and built a space where users could ask for help, not just broadcast content (Prosser, 2025).

Their turning point came when a trailer posted by Johnson on LinkedIn went viral, leading to swift investor interest. Within two weeks, Series secured funding from Parable, Pear VC, and Radicle Impact, along with angel support from Reddit’s Steve Huffman and GPTZero’s Edward Tian.

Meet Your "AI Friend"

At the core of Series is an AI friend—a digital agent that interprets requests and makes warm, value-based introductions within (and beyond) the network. This replaces the typical “spray and pray” model with real-time, intention-driven connections (Prosser, 2025).

One early user, Rich Zou of Northeastern, described the AI as so helpful it felt like talking to a real person.

Building Trust-Driven Communities

Launching with a focus on student entrepreneurs, the platform aims to scale across U.S. campuses before expanding into areas like health, education, and even dating. The goal is to become “the operating system for warm intros across life—not just work,” says Johnson (Prosser, 2025).

Call to Action

As Gen Z seeks deeper online connections, Series is leading a movement that blends tech with intention. Follow their journey and discover how the future of networking is being built—with purpose, not popularity.

Reference

Prosser, D. (2025, April 4). How two Yale juniors just raised $3.1 million for their social network. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidprosser/2025/04/04/how-two-yale-juniors-raised-31-million-for-their-social-network