TechCrunch Startup News AI gaming startup Born raises $15M to build ‘social’ AI companions that combat loneliness, plus another app just raised $14M to take on the loneliness epidemic
Sep 10, 2025
A Berlin-based startup challenges traditional AI companions by creating social AI that encourages real-world connections. Their flagship virtual pet, Pingu, is designed to combat loneliness through shared experiences. Another innovative platform, Clyx, connects users with community events, boasting impressive growth and funding. With 50,000 active users, it's set to transform urban social lives. Both startups highlight a growing movement to use technology not for isolation, but to foster genuine human interactions.
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Shared AI Over One-to-One Bots
- Fabian Camberry argues current AI companions isolate users by encouraging one-to-one relationships with chatbots.
- He believes social, shared AI experiences can strengthen real-world bonds instead of fueling loneliness.
Pingu: A Shared Virtual Pet
- Born's flagship product Pingu is a collaborative virtual pet that users raise and play minigames with.
- The pet requires collaboration with another human, turning the AI into a shared project to engage real relationships.
Funding Fuels Character Expansion
- Born raised $15M to expand characters and launch a youth-focused social AI product that leverages network effects.
- The company focuses on consistent AI personalities and safety layers while relying mainly on OpenAI models.