A new AI startup founded by Yale students wants to compete with LinkedIn. Read the pitch deck it used to raise $3M.

Could AI shake up professional networking?

Nathaneo Johnson and Sean Hargrow, both students at Yale University, think so.

The two college juniors founded Series, an AI social network that matches people over text messages, in 2024 as a new way for Gen Z students to find professional connections. The startup just secured $3.1 million in pre-seed funding.

The founders said one of the biggest problems they saw in professional networking was that social media platforms — like LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter), or Instagram — had become bloated with vanity metrics like follower counts and likes.

"I see it within our generation, the FOMO, the I'm not good enough, I won't reach out to that person, he's better than me," Hargrow told Business Insider. "Forget your likes, forget your followers, let's focus on who you are and what you can bring to the table and what you need, and what somebody else can bring to your table if it makes sense."

Series lets users chat with an "AI Friend" over iMessage or SMS about the type of connection they are looking for, such as a cofounder, investor, or mentor. The AI agent will search the Series network to find a match. For instance, I got assigned an AI Friend "Stevie," who told me over text that it would "start scouting for the best connections" and hit up one of its other AI Friends, "Oliver."

If both — human — users opt into the match, Series will connect them directly over text in a group chat, simulating a warm introduction.

The startup fits into a broader trend of AI disrupting consumer technology, which has revitalized investor interest in companies applying AI to areas like social networks and even dating.

"There's this new area opening up because of the technology," Johnson said. "Now, it's about who can capture that space the fastest."

Since launching its first chatbot in the summer of 2024, Series has expanded to over 500 universities. While you can set up an account without a student email (like I did), using a college student email lets users access features like group chats. As Series grows, the founders said in its pitch deck shared with investors that it plans to expand beyond student entrepreneurs and professional networking.

The startup is also building out early monetization with premium features for enterprise users, which will include different paid tiers that unlock additional AI agents and more customization.

Series' $3.1 million pre-seed round was led by Anne Lee Skates, a former partner at Andreessen Horowitz. It included participation from Pear VC, Reddit CEO Steve Huffman, and Tim Draper's Draper Goren Blockchain, among others.

Read the 11-page pitch deck Series used to raise its $3.1 million pre-seed:

Note: The company redacted some slides and details in the deck.