Nyborg was inspired to create Meeno after observing the loneliness of young users during her tenure at Tinder. The startup is focusing on an iOS launch due to the iPhone's popularity among teens and Apple's privacy tools. Despite the growing popularity of AI chatbots, Meeno will need to navigate potential challenges, such as inappropriate behaviors from the chatbot, similar to issues faced by other tech companies like Snap.
Key takeaways:
- Meeno, a startup founded by former Tinder CEO Renate Nyborg, has raised a $3.9 million seed round led by Sequoia for its AI-powered chatbot designed to combat loneliness.
- The company, previously known as Amorai, has raised a total of $5 million, with other investors including Andrew Ng’s AI Fund, NEA, and several angel investors.
- Meeno's chatbot is designed to learn from user interactions and provide better relationship advice, while avoiding biased conversations by asking for user details such as age, ethnicity, and sexual orientation during setup.
- The startup plans to launch on iOS first, targeting Gen Z users, and is offering 12 months of Meeno premium to users who sign up before January 31, 2024.