In a headline-making move, two 21-year-old Yale juniors raise $3 million in a record-setting 14-day span to fund their AI-powered networking startup, Series. The two juniors, Nathaneo Johnson and Sean Hargrow, are reimagining how people build meaningful relationships in the digital world.
This incredible feat puts the spotlight not only on the future of AI networking platforms but also on the rising wave of student-led innovation. When Yale students raise $3 million in such a short time, it signals the power of bold vision and smart execution, especially when led by underrepresented voices in tech.
What started as a bold belief that professional connections should feel authentic — not algorithmic — has now become a fully backed venture making waves in the tech and VC worlds. These students aren’t just founders; they’re rethinking the entire model of digital relationship building, and in doing so, are setting a new precedent for what student entrepreneurs can achieve with vision and velocity.
The Story Behind Series: Beyond the Fundraising Headlines
Series was born out of frustration — a shared dissatisfaction with how current platforms like LinkedIn reduce networking to a numbers game. Johnson, a computer science and economics major, and Hargrow, who studies neuroscience, saw a disconnect between online networks and real human relationships.
They envisioned a platform where users could form meaningful, serendipitous relationships through the power of AI — not cold outreach. With that vision, they created Series: an AI-powered networking platform that allows users to train personalized AI agents (called “AI friends”) to understand their goals and proactively introduce them to people who matter.
The system runs through familiar channels like iMessage, where users can text their AI friend and request specific introductions — to investors, mentors, co-founders, or collaborators. The agent then combs through a user’s extended network to engineer those moments of “planned luck.”
The Power of Speed: $3M in Just 14 Days
Raising capital is a daunting challenge for any startup — let alone one led by students. But Johnson and Hargrow defied the odds. In only two weeks, they raised $3 million from investors who believed in both their mission and their momentum.
“Speed is everything in startups,” Johnson noted in a recent interview. “We didn’t just want to build something; we wanted to build it fast, and build it right.” That clarity of purpose resonated with early backers and allowed them to close a significant round in record time. The funding now powers product development, team expansion, and a rollout strategy for Series across campuses and startup ecosystems.
The rapid raise is not just a financial win — it’s a cultural milestone. As two young Black founders in an industry still battling representation gaps, Johnson and Hargrow’s success story challenges the status quo and inspires a new generation of underrepresented innovators.
Engineering Luck: The Philosophy Behind Series
Through their podcast The Founder Series, Johnson and Hargrow interviewed dozens of startup founders and noticed a pattern: nearly all credited some version of “luck” for their big break. Be it an early investor, a chance encounter, or the right connection at the right time — success often hinged on unpredictable serendipity.
So they asked: what if luck could be engineered?
Series is their answer. Rather than rely on random interactions or cold emails, users can tell their AI friend exactly what kind of connection they’re looking for. That agent then uses behavioral data, social graphs, and natural language understanding to locate and facilitate valuable introductions.
This revolutionary model of AI-powered networking gives users something existing platforms lack: personalization, intent, and proactive opportunity discovery.
Breaking Stereotypes: Two Black Founders Rewrite the Silicon Valley Narrative
Johnson and Hargrow are not your stereotypical startup founders — and they’re proud of that. “We’re 6’5”, Black and technical — a direct foil to the Harvard story,” Johnson says, referencing the origin of Facebook.
That distinction, they believe, is not a limitation — it’s their superpower. By leaning into their authenticity and using their life experience as fuel, they’ve built a platform that challenges the polished, performative nature of existing networks.
Representation matters. Their rise has sparked a broader conversation about who gets to build the future of tech, and how platforms like Series can be used not just to disrupt, but to democratize access to opportunity.
FAQs: What You Should Know About Series
What is Series?
Series is an AI networking platform that uses intelligent agents to help users build meaningful professional connections through personalized recommendations and introductions.
Who Founded Series?
Series was founded by Nathaneo Johnson and Sean Hargrow, two 21-year-old students at Yale University.
How Does Series Work?
Users train their “AI friend” via platforms like iMessage by describing what kind of connection they need. The agent then searches their network for the best match and facilitates an introduction.
How Much Funding Has Series Raised?
The startup raised $3 million in just 14 days from investors excited about its mission and rapid growth potential.
What Makes Series Different from LinkedIn?
Unlike LinkedIn, which relies on static profiles and random outreach, Series focuses on intentional, AI-driven introductions — designed to foster real, high-quality connections.
The story of Series is still unfolding, but it already carries lessons that go beyond tech: that vision matters more than credentials, that action beats perfection, and that the future of networking might just start with a text to your AI friend. Watch out for this student tech startup — it’s not just rewriting the rules, it’s creating a new playbook.
