Ex-Tinder CEO Launches AI Chatbot Startup to Combat Loneliness, Secures Funding from Sequoia

Former Tinder CEO Renate Nyborg's Startup, Meeno, Secures $3.9 Million Seed Round to Combat Loneliness with AI Chatbot

Meeno, a startup founded by former Tinder CEO Renate Nyborg, is set to tackle loneliness through its innovative AI-powered chatbot. The company recently announced a successful $3.9 million seed funding round led by Sequoia Capital. Meeno plans to launch its app in December across multiple countries, including the U.S., the U.K., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, and the Netherlands.

In addition to Sequoia, Andrew Ng’s AI Fund and NEA also participated in this funding round. Previously known as Amorai, Meeno has now raised a total of $5 million, following a pre-seed round in April. Notable angel investors include Megan Jones Bell (Clinical Director of Mental Health at Google), Jim Lanzone (CEO of Yahoo), Eileen Burbidge (Passion Capital), André Heinz, Peter Rojas, Charles Campbell Roberts (Balance Pilot Capital), and Joe Zadeh (former VP of Product at Airbnb).

Meeno differentiates itself from other AI chatbot companions like Replika and Blush by branding its offering as a “personal mentor.” The startup clarifies that Meeno will not serve as a virtual “girlfriend, boyfriend, clinical therapist, or coach.” In a recent blog post, the company emphasized that Meeno learns from user interactions, promising enhanced relationship advice over time. The idea that “the app improves with usage” is common among chatbot applications, yet Meeno incorporates user-specific details, like age, ethnicity, and sexual orientation, to minimize bias in conversations.

Nyborg reflected on her time at Tinder, where she recognized the loneliness experienced by younger users, particularly those in Generation Z (ages 18-25). After leaving Tinder in August 2022, Andrew Ng introduced her to the potential of large language models (LLMs) as a tech-based solution for combating loneliness.

Meeno is initially launching on iOS, capitalizing on the iPhone's popularity among teens and leveraging Apple's robust privacy features. The company is also offering a special promotion, granting users 12 months of Meeno premium access for signing up before January 31, 2024.

As AI chatbots gain traction, companies like Snap have integrated similar features for younger audiences. However, Snap has faced challenges due to incidents involving inappropriate behavior from its My AI chatbot, prompting the platform to implement safety tools. Facing similar scrutiny, Meeno must build safeguards within its AI chatbot to ensure a secure user experience.

Meeno asserts that it employs a “complex proprietary conversation system” that utilizes multiple models to deliver contextually relevant responses. The company has confirmed that it has established guardrails for sensitive issues like self-harm and suicide, though it has not disclosed its stance on managing topics such as hate speech.

This story will continue to be updated with Meeno's insights regarding the preventive measures surrounding its AI system.