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Read the pitch decks of 14 startups looking to disrupt dating apps and social networking that have raised millions

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A new generation of consumer social startups is emerging.

From platforms focused on getting people to meet IRL to dating apps taking on Tinder or Hinge, startups are disrupting the digital social scene.

Founders of these startups are tackling problems like loneliness, dating app fatigue, and general dissatisfaction with the current social media incumbents.

Some founders come from Big Tech backgrounds, like the Instagram-heavy team behind photo-sharing app Retro, or the ex-Google employees building the social-mapping app PamPam. Gen Z founders are also throwing their hats in the ring, like Isabella Epstein’s IRL-focused app Kndrd, or Tiffany “TZ” Zhong’s Noplace app.

Investors are taking notice.

For instance, the IRL-social app 222, which matches strangers over dinner or activities with a personality quiz, raised a $2.5 million seed round from venture capital firms like 1517 Fund, General Catalyst, and Best Nights VC in 2024.

“We’re entering this new wave of social where people are trying to revert back to what people really use these platforms for to begin with — which is connection,” Maitree Mervana Parekh, a principal at Acrew Capital, told Business Insider in 2024.

Meet 19 startups in social networking, dating, and AI that investors have their eyes on

Some venture capital funds — such as French firm Intuition VC or gaming-focused firm Patron — have made tackling loneliness and relationships part of their investment theses.

But it’s not just friendship and dating that are ripe for disruption.

Startups like Khosla Ventures-backed Gigi, Yale-student-founded Series, Boardy, Filament, and Goodword have raised capital for AI tools to help people network better or maintain professional relationships.

“When people think about loneliness, they think about friends and family,” Goodword CEO Caroline Dell recently told Business Insider. “But we spend most of our waking hours at work as professionals.”

Meet the founders of 11 startups competing with dating app giants like Tinder

Other startups, like Diem and Spill, have opened up investment rounds to include users themselves using the platform Wefunder.

It’s not yet clear how many of these investments will pan out. Some startups are pre-revenue, while others are experimenting with monetization methods (such as freemium models).

“Founders have to be honest with themselves,” said Marlon Nichols, a founding partner at Mac Venture Capital. “Some of them aren’t really venture-scale or venture-type investments. We’re looking for the next big thing, the next category leader.”

Meet 12 VCs and investors eyeing new social startups

Business Insider spoke with several social media and dating app founders about how they are raising capital, including the pitch decks they used to raise millions of dollars.

Read the pitch decks that helped 14 social-networking and dating startups raise millions of dollars:

Note: Pitch decks are sorted by investment stage and size of round.

Series A

Seed

Pre-Seed

Other

Read about more social networking and dating startups raising millions:

  • Airbuds, a social music app, told Business Insider in November that it has raised $10.2 million — including a recent check from Alexis Ohanian’s VC fund.
  • Sweatpals, a fitness and wellness social platform, raised $12 million in seed funding.
  • Sitch, an AI matchmaking dating app, announced in April that it had raised $2 million in pre-seed funding.
  • Amata, another AI matchmaking dating startup, recently launched in the US and disclosed that it raised $6 million in 2023.
  • Gigi, an AI social network for making professional connections, announced in September that it raised $3 million from Khosla Ventures.
  • Corner, a social mapping app for Gen Z, disclosed in September that it has raised $3.75 million.




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Pranav Dixit

Read the memos Google, Apple, Microsoft, and ServiceNow sent visa workers warning them not to travel

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The world’s largest technology companies are scrambling to manage a growing crisis affecting thousands of their employees on work visas, as new social media screening requirements trigger delays at US embassies and consulates worldwide.

Google, Apple, Microsoft, and ServiceNow have all sent advisories to visa-holding employees in recent days, warning them against international travel and describing appointment delays stretching up to a year.

The memos, sent by immigration law firms representing these companies or by their internal legal teams, paint a picture of mounting uncertainty for foreign workers who form a critical part of the tech industry’s workforce.

The warnings come as American embassies have postponed routine visa stamping appointments, leaving some employees already abroad unable to return to work in the US for extended periods.

For H-1B holders, the primary work visa used by tech companies, the situation creates a particularly difficult bind. If their visa stamp expires and they travel abroad, they must obtain a new stamp at a consulate before re-entering the US. With appointments now being rescheduled months into the future, what would typically be a routine trip home has become a potential career disruption lasting up to a year.

On Friday, a spokesperson for the Department of State told Business Insider it was now conducting “online presence reviews for applicants.” The department said it may move appointments as resources change, with applicants able to request expedited slots on a case-by-case basis.

“While in the past the emphasis may have been on processing cases quickly and reducing wait times, our embassies and consulates around the world, including in India, are now prioritizing thoroughly vetting each visa case above all else,” the State Department spokesperson said. Appointments in Ireland and Vietnam have also been postponed, according to immigration firm Reddy Neumann Brown PC.

Below are the full texts of the internal memos sent to employees at these companies, obtained by Business Insider, which reveal how corporate America is responding to the visa processing slowdown.

Google declined to comment, while Microsoft, Apple, and ServiceNow did not respond to requests for comment from Business Insider.

Microsoft


Microsoft

Microsoft has advised its visa-holding workers not to travel.

Matthias Balk/picture alliance via Getty Images



Below is the text of a memo sent by Jack Chen, Microsoft’s associate general counsel for immigration.

Update #1 on H-1B/H-4 Visa Appointment Rescheduling and Stamping Delays
Hi everyone,
As shared yesterday, some U.S. consulates are rescheduling existing H-1B/H-4 visa appointments and pushing dates out by several months. Here’s what we know:
  • Rescheduling notifications are concentrated in Chennai and Hyderabad, with some unverified reports from other consulates. New dates are as far out as June 2026.
  • The delays stem from operational constraints tied to the new online presence review for H-1B/H-4 visas, effective December 15, which reduces daily processing capacity. We’re also hearing that these consulates needed time to implement new vetting procedures.
  • We have no confirmed reports of rescheduling for other visa types yet. While only H-1B/H-4, F, J, and M visas are subject to the online presence review, we think secondary impacts on overall processing may emerge.
  • We don’t know if rescheduling is ongoing, for those whose original visa appointments have not been changed.
Some employees have already traveled for appointments and received rescheduling notices without warning; others are getting notices before departure. To set expectations, it is highly unlikely emergency appointments will be granted, given the circumstances.
This is a rapidly developing situation. Here is our preliminary guidance, which we’ll update as we learn more. Please read this next section carefully—I’ve tried to simplify it, but the details do matter:

For those currently outside the U.S.:

  • You need a new visa stamp + your H-1B visa appointment was rescheduled months later: We will contact you. Please follow the instructions below to report your situation (even if you’ve already contacted AskUSI).
  • Your H-1B visa appointment was rescheduled BUT you still have some validity left on your current visa stamp: If your visa is for the proper work-authorized category, return before your current visa expires. This situation applies for people who had scheduled visa appointments because their visas are expiring soon, not before the return to the U.S. is planned.

For those still in the U.S.:

  • You have upcoming travel + will need a new visa to return + your H-1B visa appointment was rescheduled months later: You should strongly consider changing your travel plans. You cannot return until your new visa stamp is issued, and it’s highly unlikely that the appointment can be moved earlier. And there are limitations to your ability to perform work for your U.S. role during that period. See Microsoft Global Mobility Payroll and Tax Compliance Policy.
  • You have upcoming travel + will need a new visa to return BUT your H-1B visa appointment has not been rescheduled: There is risk your appointment could be moved during your trip and result in you being stuck abroad. Factor this into your decision. We are still learning more about how widespread and significant delays are in other consulates.
For other visa categories (not H-1B/H-4, F, J, M): Proceed as planned for now, but note things can change quickly.

HOW YOU CAN HELP US IDENTIFY TRENDS

To track real-time impacts, we need data from employees whose appointments have been rescheduled or may be soon. This will help us identify:
  • Which consulates are affected
  • When notifications of rescheduling are being sent
  • Length of delays
  • Whether other visa types are impacted
If you have a visa appointment scheduled with a U.S. consulate for any visa category, we’ve created a survey where you can share these details with us. And importantly, the survey allows you to update your responses—for example, if you haven’t been rescheduled when you originally complete this survey, but subsequently receive a rescheduling notification. This form is also the clearest way for us to identify employees who are currently outside the U.S. and cannot return until a new visa stamp is issued: Census of Upcoming Visa Stamping Appointments — Fill out form
We’ll share out insights based on these responses and further information we’re able to gather by the end of the week.
For employees currently stuck abroad—we know this is an anxious moment. We will provide clear and orderly guidance to you directly as soon as we can.

Google


Google

Lawyers for Google told the company’s visa-holding staffers that visa processing is facing delays as long as a year.

Cheng Xin/Getty Images



Below is the text of an email sent by Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP (BAL), the immigration firm that represents Google.

Hi everyone,
Please be aware that some U.S. Embassies and Consulates are experiencing significant visa stamping appointment delays, currently reported as up to 12 months.
Due to high demand and enhanced screening for H-1B, H-4, F, J and M visas, visa processing is taking longer than usual. If you require a new visa stamp to re-enter the U.S., we recommend avoiding international travel at this time as you risk an extended stay outside the U.S.
We encourage you to review go/bal-travel-advisory. If you have any questions, reach out to schedule a consultation with a BAL attorney at go/getsupport.
Thank you,
BAL

Apple


Apple

Apple also sent memos to visa-holding workers warning them of extended delays in visa processing.

Andrej Sokolow/picture alliance via Getty Images



Below is the text of an email sent by Apple’s immigration team.

Given the recent updates and the possibility of unpredictable, extended delays when returning to the US, we strongly recommend that employees without a valid H-1B visa stamp avoid international travel for now. If travel cannot be postponed, employees should connect with Apple Immigration and Fragomen in advance to discuss the risks.

ServiceNow


ServiceNow

ServiceNow, an IT automation firm, told its visa holders that a new immigration policy requiring the vetting of social media is causing delays in processing.

Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images



Below is the text of an email sent by ServiceNow’s Global Mobility Team.

Potential cancellation of US consulate appointments for H-1B and H-4 visa holders

Global Mobility update

What to know
The US State Department has announced that some consulate appointments for individuals holding H-1B and H-4 visas are being canceled due to a newly implemented review process that examines applicants’ online presence, including social media activity.
This change primarily affects foreign nationals with appointments scheduled on or after December 15, 2025, at US consulates in India who require visa stamps to return to the United States. However, it could also impact other visa types and consulates in the future.
Please see the Fragomen client alert here.
Notification process
If your appointment is affected by this process change, you will receive an email from the consulate with a cancellation notice and a new appointment, which in some cases could be as late as November 2026.
If you’re outside the U.S. right now
  • If you need a new visa stamp and your H-1B visa appointment has been delayed by several months: Reach out to your manager as soon as possible to discuss whether an exception to the 30-day Work from Anywhere policy is warranted.
  • If your H-1B appointment has been delayed, but your current visa stamp is still valid: If your visa category allows you to work in the U.S., we recommend you return before your current visa expires.
Exceptions and emergency appointments
If your appointment has been cancelled or rescheduled, you may apply for an emergency expedited appointment if you meet one of the following criteria:
  1. Death in the family
  2. Medical need / Family Emergency
  3. Potential loss of substantial revenue, profits, or contracts for the company
We have heard that the expedited consulate appointment process is resulting in an earlier appointment, so you are encouraged to try this approach by completing the request form. Please review the Expedited Consulate Appointments site for additional details.
Working from India or any location using the Work from Anywhere exception
If delay would materially impact revenue/contracts or there’s a medical/family emergency, ServiceNow will review and approve exceptions to the 30-day Work from Anywhere guidelines on a case-by-case basis.
Travel guidance
If you’re planning travel, please consult with Fragomen for guidance before making any arrangements. If you have upcoming trips to India that require a consulate appointment for visa stamping to return to the U.S., we recommend cancelling those plans. Otherwise, you risk significant delays in securing an appointment to apply for a visa stamp.
Support
If you have questions about consulate appointment cancellations or upcoming travel, you can reach out to Fragomen through the Fragomen Messenger feature within the Fragomen Connect Portal or submit a request to the Global Mobility team.
The Global Mobility Team

Have a tip? Contact Pranav Dixit via email at pranavdixit@protonmail.com or Signal at 1-408-905-9124. Use a personal email address, a nonwork WiFi network, and a nonwork device; here’s our guide to sharing information securely.




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Read the memo Warner Bros. Discovery sent employees after Netflix won the bidding war for its key assets

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  • Netflix agreed to purchase Warner Bros. in a $72 billion deal.
  • Netflix will buy HBO Max and the Warner Bros. studio, but not WBD’s TV networks like CNN and TNT.
  • Here is the memo Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav sent to employees.

Netflix is buying Warner Bros. Discovery’s studio and streaming businesses in a seismic $72 billion deal that promises to shake up Hollywood.

The Netflix-WBD tie-up, which the companies announced on Friday morning, would be the industry’s largest since Disney bought 21st Century Fox for $71 billion in 2019. Netflix is planning to buy HBO Max and the top-performing Warner Bros. studio, but not WBD’s TV networks like CNN, TNT, and TBS.

Netflix must first secure regulatory approval from the US and foreign governments, which some media analysts say could be a challenge. If all goes as planned, the deal is set to close in 12 to 18 months, the companies said.

Netflix beat out Paramount Skydance and Comcast in a bidding war.

Since Netflix is only buying the Warner Bros. studio and HBO Max, the remaining TV assets that are seen as less valuable will be spun out, as WBD originally planned. WBD was formed in April 2022 after a merger between AT&T’s WarnerMedia and Discovery.

“In the coming days, we will establish an Integration Office, which will coordinate all planning with Netflix, consistent with regulatory requirements,” WBD CEO David Zaslav wrote in a note to employees on Friday. “Until the transaction closes, WBD and Netflix remain separate companies. It may be tempting to reach out directly to counterparts or former colleagues at Netflix, but it is essential that all interactions are managed through this office to ensure we meet every legal and regulatory obligation.”

Here’s the full memo that Zaslav sent employees on Friday morning:

This communication has been sent to everyone at WBD.
Team,
The Board of Directors of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) approved a transaction under which Warner Bros. will be acquired by Netflix, subject to regulatory approvals and closing conditions, including the completion of the separation of Discovery Global from WBD.
As part of the structure, the Global Networks business will form a new standalone company, Discovery Global, with Gunnar Wiedenfels to serve as CEO once the new company separates from WBD, now expected to be completed in Q3 2026.
This decision reflects the realities of an industry undergoing generational change – in how stories are financed, produced, distributed, and discovered – and recognizes the strong, transformed company we are today, the significant value we have created, and the resilience and attractiveness that now position us in a rapidly evolving marketplace. Over the past several months, the Board evaluated a full set of strategic paths. Their conclusion is that this structure – Warner Bros. joining Netflix, and Discovery Global becoming a focused standalone company – provides the strongest long-term foundation for both sets of businesses.
As outlined in the announcement, the proposed combination of Warner Bros. and Netflix reflects complementary strengths, more choice and value for consumers, a stronger entertainment industry, increased opportunity for creative talent, and long-term value creation for shareholders.
I know this announcement creates many questions about what’s next. For some, it brings clarity about direction. For others, it raises questions about what this means for their teams and their work. All of those reactions are understandable. A transaction of this nature naturally creates uncertainty, and not all answers will be available immediately. Some will be clarified in the coming days and weeks; others depend on regulatory processes and on work that cannot begin until separation or closing.
People across WBD have navigated extraordinary change over the last three years, while building a company with real creative, journalistic, and commercial strength. That deserves to be acknowledged plainly.
What we can say now, based on the direction set out today, is that this structure provides a clearer path forward for Warner Bros. within Netflix, and for Discovery Global as a standalone company. For both, the goal is to position their creative work, talent, and brands to navigate a market that is constantly evolving and increasingly global.
What happens now
Later today, we will hold a Global Town Hall to walk through what we know and what is still to be determined. Calendar invites will follow shortly after this email.
Business Unit leaders will hold discussions specific to their areas in the coming days, so you can hear directly from your leader.
Managers will also come together early next week so they have the context and support they need to guide their teams through the early stages of this transition.
What happens next
The path toward a separation of WBD into Warner Bros. and Discovery Global will shift. We will redirect work tied to the earlier, planned two-company operating model and focus instead on the steps required to enable this transaction.
In the coming days, we will establish an Integration Office, which will coordinate all planning with Netflix, consistent with regulatory requirements. Until the transaction closes, WBD and Netflix remain separate companies. It may be tempting to reach out directly to counterparts or former colleagues at Netflix, but it is essential that all interactions are managed through this office to ensure we meet every legal and regulatory obligation.
What this means for you
We also recognize that many people are looking for more clarity about what to focus on, how to prioritize work, and what this means for their teams. Those details will become clearer over the next several weeks, as we move toward our 2026 goal-setting and operating plan alignment processes.
As part of that, you will hear guidance from your Business Unit and functional leaders early in the new year, with expectations and priorities anchored to what we know at that point in the regulatory process.
In the meantime, please continue to focus on the work needed to wrap up 2025, support year-end deliverables, and take the opportunity to rest and recharge over the holidays.
We will continue to communicate regularly, and new information will be shared in One Insider and on the One website. And we will see you later today at the Global Town Hall.
As we move through this next chapter, our aim is simple: handle decisions with care, communicate clearly about what we know, and make sure people have the information and support they need at each step.
I know moments like this carry weight. And they can also mark the beginning of new possibilities. The work you bring to this company – and the way you have shown up for one another – has built something that others clearly see value in. That matters. And while I cannot predict every step ahead, I am confident in the strength of our brands, in the talent of our teams, and in the stories, journalism, and experiences we will continue to bring to audiences around the world.
David




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