Two Yale University juniors, Nathaneo Johnson and Sean Hargrow, have made headlines by raising $3.1 million in funding to launch a groundbreaking startup, Series. They developed an AI-powered networking platform that aims to transform how people build meaningful connections. Their bold vision challenges traditional social media platforms and reimagines networking by prioritizing mutual value and trust.
Johnson and Hargrow, both students on full financial aid, built their entrepreneurial path from the ground up. Through hard work, strategic thinking, and relentless execution, they achieved what many seasoned professionals spend years attempting—closing a multi-million-dollar investment round, securing elite backers, and introducing a product that could change the landscape of social interaction.
How Series Began: From Podcast to Product
The story of Series started during their freshman year at Yale. Johnson and Hargrow teamed up to create a podcast called “The Founder Series,” which featured interviews with student entrepreneurs and startup founders. Over time, they noticed a recurring theme in these conversations—successful founders often built their careers through networks that gave them warm introductions, personalized guidance, and support systems most people lacked.
They realized the immense value of “warm networks”—connections facilitated through trusted intermediaries. However, most people, especially underrepresented individuals, don’t have access to these ecosystems. That realization sparked the idea for Series.
They envisioned a platform that uses artificial intelligence to act like a well-connected friend. This AI would understand each user’s background, needs, and aspirations, then suggest meaningful introductions that reflect shared values or goals. Johnson and Hargrow believed they could help anyone, anywhere, meet the right people to grow professionally or personally—even without traditional social capital.
The Funding Journey: Viral Momentum and Silicon Valley Trust
Johnson posted a short video about Series on LinkedIn, which unexpectedly went viral in the college entrepreneurial community. The buzz attracted Anne Lee Skates, a former investor at Andreessen Horowitz and founder of the VC firm Parable. She reached out to Johnson, and they scheduled a Zoom call that would mark a turning point in their journey.
Skates immediately saw the platform’s potential. She introduced Johnson and Hargrow to key investors in Silicon Valley. Instead of dragging out the fundraising process, the duo flew to California, pitched their vision, and closed the funding round in just 14 days.
Parable led the investment, while other major firms and individual investors joined the round. These included Pear VC, DGB.VC, 47th Street, Radicle Impact, Uncommon Projects, Reddit CEO Steve Huffman, and GPTZero founder Edward Tian. The investors didn’t just back a business—they backed a mission. Johnson and Hargrow had proven they could build something big and deeply impactful.
How Series Works: AI That Curates Real Connections
Series does not follow the path of typical social networking platforms. It doesn’t promote endless scrolling, follower counts, or clout-chasing. Instead, the app focuses on quality over quantity—facilitating real, helpful introductions through conversational AI.
The platform requires a verified .edu email address, creating a trusted space for college students. After onboarding, users meet their personal “AI Friend”—a digital agent that asks thoughtful questions and learns about their interests, goals, and background.
From there, the AI evaluates what kind of people the user should meet—whether it’s a co-founder for a startup idea, a mentor in their industry, or a student from another campus with similar interests. When the AI spots a potential connection, it sends a double opt-in introduction. Both users receive basic context about each other and can choose to connect if the match feels right.
All of this happens in iMessage, a space where students already spend much of their time. By building the tool into familiar environments, Johnson and Hargrow lower the barrier to entry and make the experience feel natural.
Real-World Feedback: College Students Embrace the Platform
Students across various universities have started using Series, and the feedback so far has validated the founders’ vision. One early user, a computer science student from Northeastern University, shared that the AI conversations felt surprisingly human. He described how he forgot he was talking to a bot until the AI introduced him to a peer with similar startup goals.
That level of personalization has drawn attention from not just students, but also educators and career development professionals. Universities often struggle to provide adequate networking support, especially for first-generation or minority students. Series steps in to close that gap, offering a tool that scales human connection with the help of AI.
Founders With Purpose: Redefining Success and Representation
Johnson and Hargrow grew up in environments where warm introductions didn’t come easily. Raised by single mothers, they entered Yale on full financial aid, determined to make the most of their education. They frequently found themselves as the only Black students in startup conversations or venture funding events.
Rather than allow that experience to discourage them, they used it as fuel. They wanted to build a platform that not only connected people but also made sure that everyone, regardless of race, background, or privilege, had equal access to powerful networks.
Their journey, from podcasting in a dorm room to raising millions in Silicon Valley, now serves as a blueprint and source of inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs everywhere. They have already begun mentoring younger students and visiting high schools to encourage students of color to explore entrepreneurship and tech innovation.
The Road Ahead: From Campus to the World
With the initial rollout focused on college students, Johnson and Hargrow plan to expand Series into industries that depend on trusted relationships. These include finance, education, healthcare, and even dating.
They believe the core product—the AI Friend—can help anyone, anywhere, connect more intentionally. Whether someone needs a collaborator for a nonprofit, a coach for personal growth, or a patient-doctor match, the model adapts and scales.
The founders aren’t content with simply creating a successful app. They want to scale Series to one billion AI Friends over the next ten years. That’s not just a user acquisition target—it reflects their mission to make meaningful networking accessible to everyone on Earth.
Their message is simple: meaningful relationships matter, and everyone deserves access to them.
A Glimpse Into the Future of Social Networking
Series doesn’t just challenge traditional social media—it redefines it. In a world flooded with empty likes, algorithmic timelines, and superficial engagement, this platform champions depth, trust, and purpose.
The AI doesn’t replace human connection—it enhances it. The platform doesn’t distract—it directs. And the founders don’t follow Silicon Valley’s usual playbook—they write their own.
As Johnson and Hargrow continue to build, the world watches not just a startup in motion, but a movement in the making.
Conclusion
Nathaneo Johnson and Sean Hargrow didn’t wait for someone to build a better social network. They did it themselves. With passion, intelligence, and a clear vision, they raised $3.1 million and launched a platform that prioritizes purpose over performance metrics.
Series offers something today’s digital world desperately needs—real connections in a time of constant noise. As more users join and the AI evolves, Series stands ready to become one of the most important innovations in social networking this decade.