In a world saturated with social media platforms promising connection but delivering isolation, one 21-year-old founder dared to ask: What if AI could actually help us build real relationships?
Meet Nathaneo Johnson—co-founder and CEO of Series, the world’s first AI social network. A junior at Yale University studying computer science and economics, Nathaneo isn’t just another college kid with a side hustle. He’s redefining how we network in the digital age—and he’s doing it with a bold vision, viral marketing tactics, and a $3.1 million seed round raised in just 14 days, making it the largest funding round ever by an active Ivy League student startup.
This isn’t just another tech headline. It’s a startup story that challenges norms, breaks barriers, and proves that innovation doesn’t require dropping out—it thrives inside the classroom.
The Genesis of Series: From Podcast to AI-Powered Warm Introductions
Like many great ventures, Series didn’t begin with a pitch deck or a hackathon win. It started with curiosity.
During their freshman year at Yale, Nathaneo and his co-founder Sean launched a podcast interviewing founders and CEOs—from breakout startups to established tech giants like Runway ML. Their central question? How did these leaders use their warm networks to build billion-dollar companies?
What they uncovered was a harsh truth: access matters more than merit in many professional arenas. “I’d imagine that anyone who lands a Wall Street IB internship has at least five peers who were equally—if not more—qualified,” Nathaneo explains. “But those peers didn’t have a ‘dad’s golf buddy’ to open the door.”
This realization sparked a mission: democratize access to meaningful connections. Not through cold DMs or LinkedIn spam—but through AI-driven warm introductions.
Building the First AI Social Network: No Followers, Just Agents
Series isn’t another social app with likes, followers, or vanity metrics. In fact, there are no profile numbers at all.
Instead, Series operates on agent-to-agent matchmaking via iMessage. Users describe a need—“I’m looking for a co-founder for my climate tech startup” or “I need feedback on my art portfolio”—and Series’ AI “friends” scan its network to find the right human match. Then, it facilitates a warm introduction as if a trusted friend made the connection.
“We’re not competing with LinkedIn or Twitter,” Nathaneo clarifies. “We’re creating a new category: agentic networking.”
Early tests exploded in popularity. After deploying a prototype to Yale’s email list—and Princeton’s the next day—users began leveraging the system for everything from startup collaborations to gallery showings. Within weeks, Series hit 250,000+ messages sent, validating a powerful insight: people crave authentic, purpose-driven connections—not just more contacts.
The Viral Intern House: A Controversial (But Brilliant) Growth Hack
While most startups rely on remote interns and generic UGC campaigns, Series took a radically different approach: they brought their interns to live together in a house.
Yes, you read that right.
Rather than managing a distributed team of students logging in from dorm rooms, Series created a physical hub—a “creator house” where interns collaborate in person, build community, and generate organic buzz. This wasn’t just about productivity; it was a social experiment in real-time brand-building.
“People share things that make them think,” Nathaneo says. “If you do something unconventional—but with intention—it creates curiosity. That curiosity drives virality.”
Critics called it gimmicky. Supporters called it genius. Either way, it worked. The “Series House” became a talking point across tech Twitter, founder forums, and campus newsletters—proving that authentic controversy, backed by substance, can accelerate growth faster than any ad campaign.
Breaking Barriers: A Black Founder in the Ivy League Tech Scene
Nathaneo’s journey is also a story of representation.
As a Black founder at an Ivy League institution, he’s acutely aware of the gaps in the ecosystem. “There wasn’t much of a founder culture at Yale when I arrived,” he notes. “You were either told to wait until graduation—or drop out immediately. There was no middle path.”
Series challenges that false dichotomy. By building a venture while excelling academically—playing varsity basketball, powerlifting, and maintaining a rigorous course load—Nathaneo proves that school isn’t a distraction from entrepreneurship; it’s a strategic advantage.
The campus becomes your first market. Classmates become early adopters. Professors become advisors. And yes—your dorm can become your first growth lab.
His $3.1M raise (backed by top-tier VCs, including a pivotal meeting in San Francisco that turned into a “million-dollar dinner”) sent shockwaves through the student founder community. “After we raised, we saw dozens of other student teams close rounds quickly,” he says. “Because if we could do it—two Black guys from Yale—then they could too.”
That’s the ripple effect of a first-mover startup story: it doesn’t just build a company—it builds belief.
Why Now? The Perfect Storm for AI-Powered Social Innovation
Series didn’t emerge in a vacuum. It arrived at the confluence of three seismic shifts:
- The collapse of traditional networking – LinkedIn feels transactional. Dating apps feel superficial. People are exhausted by performative connection.
- The rise of agentic AI – Consumers are ready to trust AI not just as tools, but as active participants in their lives (think: Replika, but for professional growth).
- The “student founder” renaissance – Gen Z rejects the “drop out to succeed” myth. They want to build with their communities, not abandon them.
Nathaneo and his team didn’t just spot this window—they leapt through it at full speed.
“Speed is our biggest asset,” he says. “Yes, things break. But in a war—not a battle—you capture market share by moving faster than anyone thinks is possible.”
Beyond the Hype: What Makes Series Stick?
Many AI startups fade after the initial buzz. So what gives Series staying power?
Depth.
While others chase viral gimmicks, Series focuses on real utility:
- No vanity metrics: You’re not chasing followers—you’re solving problems.
- Context-aware matching: AI understands your intent, not just your resume.
- Frictionless onboarding: Everything happens over iMessage—no new app to download.
- Community-driven growth: The intern house, campus ambassadors, and word-of-mouth loops create organic momentum.
As Nathaneo puts it: “People don’t remember features. They remember how you made them feel—seen, connected, empowered.”
Lessons from a 21-Year-Old Who’s Rewriting the Rules
Nathaneo’s startup story offers powerful takeaways for founders at any stage:
✅ Solve a real pain point – Not “another social app,” but “how do I get that intro I deserve?”
✅ Leverage your environment – Your school, city, or community is your first unfair advantage.
✅ Embrace intelligent controversy – Do something people talk about, not just scroll past.
✅ Move fast—but with purpose – Speed without direction is chaos. Speed with vision is dominance.
✅ Tell a new story – Don’t build a “better LinkedIn.” Build the next evolution of human connection.
The Road Ahead: What’s Next for Series?
With $3.1M in the bank and viral momentum, Series is scaling beyond Ivy League campuses. The team is expanding its AI capabilities, deepening match quality, and exploring integrations beyond iMessage.
But Nathaneo remains grounded. “We’re not trying to be the next Facebook,” he says. “We’re trying to be the first Series—a platform where every introduction feels like it came from a friend who truly gets you.”
And in a world starved for genuine connection, that might just be the most valuable product of all.
Final Thought: Your Startup Story Starts Where You Are
Nathaneo Johnson didn’t wait for permission. He didn’t drop out. He didn’t move to Silicon Valley. He started where he was—in a Yale dorm, with a podcast mic and a Python script—and built something the world hadn’t seen before.
That’s the power of a true startup story: it reminds us that innovation isn’t about resources. It’s about refusing to accept the status quo.
So whether you’re a student, a bartender in Tromsø (yes, we see you), or a career-switcher in your 40s—your next big idea doesn’t need perfect timing. It just needs you to begin.
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