Building a Whole New World: Meet the Yale Juniors Redefining Social Networking with AI

They’re not just thinking outside the box—they’re building a brand-new one.

At just 21 years old, Yale juniors Nathaneo Johnson and Sean Hargrow have done what many seasoned entrepreneurs spend years dreaming about: they raised $3 million in just 14 days to launch Series, an AI-powered networking platform that could change how people connect online. As Entrepreneur reports, Series is being hailed as the “anti-Facebook” — a platform that values real connections over followers, likes, or viral clout.

For Johnson and Hargrow, Series isn’t just a tech startup. It’s a statement.

“We’re 6’5”, Black, and technical—a direct foil to the Harvard story,” Johnson told Entrepreneur, referencing Mark Zuckerberg’s origins. “That difference is the reason Series tells a new story of how people connect online.”

Their mission began with a deceptively simple question: What if AI could help engineer luck?

Engineering Serendipity

The idea was sparked while hosting The Founder Series podcast, where Johnson and Hargrow interviewed dozens of entrepreneurs and investors. One pattern stood out: success often hinged on timing and connections — being in the right place, at the right time, meeting the right person. “We realized that kind of luck could actually be designed,” Hargrow told Forbes.

So they set out to build it.

Series works like this: users message an AI-powered “friend” within the app, describing the type of connection they’re seeking — a mentor, cofounder, investor, or collaborator. The AI then searches the network to identify matches based on shared goals, expertise, and personality fit.

Unlike traditional platforms that reward polished personas and attention-grabbing content, Series is intentionally minimalistic. No follower counts, no filters, no endless scrolling. “It’s not about how perfect your profile looks,” Johnson explains. “It’s about who you are — and who you need in your life right now.” (TechCrunch)

From Cold Emails to Million-Dollar Dinners

The journey to $3 million was far from easy. The pair began with cold outreach, facing a wave of rejections. But their persistence paid off when a mutual connection introduced them to Anne Lee Skates, a Bay Area venture capitalist known for backing early-stage founders at Sequoia Capital.

According to Forbes, one spontaneous cross-country flight and dinner later, Skates became their lead investor — a meeting Hargrow calls “a million-dollar dinner, quite literally.” Within two weeks, their round was oversubscribed, drawing backing from tech executives, Yale alumni, and angel investors inspired by the duo’s authenticity and vision.

Purpose Over Platform

Johnson, a computer science and economics major from Irvine, California, and Hargrow, a neuroscience major and former athlete from Queens, New York, met during their freshman year at Yale. Bonded by shared ambition and a belief in technology as a tool for empowerment, they began building Series in their dorm room.

As The New York Times notes, what makes their story especially significant isn’t just the money they’ve raised — it’s the message behind it. In an industry long criticized for its lack of diversity, Johnson and Hargrow are part of a growing generation of Black founders who are challenging Silicon Valley’s old narratives.

“When I was younger, I didn’t see many people who looked like me building what I wanted to build,” Johnson said. “Now, I can look at my younger self and know he’d be proud.” (The New York Times)

Redefining the Future of Connection

Beyond its innovative tech, Series taps into something deeply human: the desire to connect with purpose. “We’re not trying to replace real-world relationships,” Hargrow said. “We’re trying to make it easier for people to find the right relationships in the first place.” (Entrepreneur)

In a digital landscape crowded with performative engagement and algorithm-driven validation, Series is carving out a different space — one that prioritizes authenticity, accessibility, and opportunity. Tech critics have already compared its vision to LinkedIn meets ChatGPT, but with a heart.

As TechCrunch put it, Series could “usher in a new era of human-centered networking,” where AI enhances connection rather than replacing it.

And for Johnson and Hargrow, this is just the beginning. Their $3 million raise isn’t just a milestone — it’s momentum. “We’re building a whole new world,” Johnson said with a smile. “And this time, everyone’s invited.”