Boardy, a burgeoning startup in the professional networking sphere, has announced a successful pre-seed funding round that garnered a substantial $3 million. This announcement, made on Thursday, represents a significant milestone for the company which has been developing its AI-driven networking solution since its inception earlier this year.
Co-founded by CEO Andrew D’Souza, alongside brothers Ankur and Abhinav Boyed, Boardy emerged from conceptual discussions in March and was in development throughout the summer. The company officially launched this month with its unique AI voice technology at the core of its operations.
Boardy's innovative approach to networking involves users interacting with an AI voice assistant aptly named Boardy. Users provide their phone number to Boardy.ai, which prompts a phone call from the AI assistant. In this call, the user discusses their current projects or needs, and Boardy then scours its network for potential connections that could be beneficial. This network, initially seeded with D’Souza’s contacts including investors, founders, and creators, has expanded to include several thousand members. It is primarily utilised by individuals seeking to connect with prospective customers, investors, or even co-founders. The system has proven useful for users trying to enter accelerator programmes.
In explaining the mechanism, D’Souza elaborated that if Boardy deems a connection potentially beneficial, based on experience and social compatibility, it facilitates a double-opt-in introduction via email. This allows both parties to consent to the connection before any introductions are made. Users can repeat this process weekly for new introductions.
D’Souza's motivation for establishing Boardy stems from a recognition of increased loneliness, especially prominent in America and exacerbated by the isolation experienced during the pandemic. He perceives a risk that AI could deepen this loneliness by removing jobs and impinging on what makes people feel human. However, Boardy’s mission contrasts with those concerns; D’Souza envisions a future where AI fosters greater human interconnectedness, allowing for collaborative problem-solving between humans and technology.
Before venturing into Boardy, D’Souza co-founded and scaled the e-commerce platform Clearco. After nearly a decade with Clearco, he stepped down to allow for new leadership, opting to explore new entrepreneurial avenues. His network from Clearco proved instrumental in fundraising efforts for Boardy, with major contributions coming from investors like HF0, 8VC, Precursor, Afore, FJ Labs, and NextView.
The infusion of capital will be channelled into enhancing Boardy’s AI system, with an emphasis on making it more intelligent and empathetic. Furthermore, the team aims to expand the network further to provide diverse connecting opportunities for users.
Currently, Boardy faces limited competition within the AI-driven networking niche, albeit companies such as Butterflies and SocialAI are exploring the broader AI social networking market. Unlike platforms that primarily focus on consumer interaction and appointment booking, Boardy stands out according to D’Souza, due to its intrinsic principle of mutual benefit within its network.
D’Souza articulates that Boardy's AI operates with autonomy, optimising assistance without compromising the welfare of network participants. “You can’t tell Boardy what to do,” he stated, “which is actually what makes him more trustworthy.” This autonomous model seeks to foster trust and authenticity within the network, presenting Boardy as not just a tool but a pioneering bridge in professional connectivity.
Source: Noah Wire Services