Two former Netflix and Clubhouse executives have teamed up to launch their own application.
TechCrunch reports that Maya Watson and Lexi Nisita first connected while working at Netflix. Watson spent five years at the company, serving as director of marketing, editorial, and publishing. Nisita spent an additional two years with titles that included director of brand and editorial. While working at Netflix and then later at Clubhouse, they noticed synergy in their workflow.
After one year at Clubhouse, they decided to pivot and combine their skills to launch why?!, a social network platform intended to help people forge new connections and water existing ones, according to a press release provided to AFROTECH™.
“We are a founding team that’s worked for companies that drove culture and ushered in completely new behaviors that changed everything in entertainment, media, and consumer social. Now, we want to change the way we connect,” said CEO Watson, in a news release. “We’re lonelier than ever, and there is a deep yearning for human connection. why?! is a new kind of space that prioritizes people over posts and real conversations over content. Our hope is to create something that actually connects us, gets us talking and helps us feel human again.”
The social network aims to target any and every relationship, from family to coworkers, and foster communication with open-ended questions and unexpected prompts.
“I’m obsessed with friendship, and I wish there were more ways to put it on the pedestal it deserves and nurture it with the same intention that we save for romantic relationships. That’s the point of why?! for me,” said Nisita in a news release. “I understand the power and allure of traditional social media, but we’re usually talking past each other and consuming endless ads. I want to make an app that can help new generations make more friends and enrich their bonds while still being equally fun and captivating.”
The app raised $1.65 million in pre-seed funding in a round that included participation from Charles Hudson, managing partner and founder of Precursor Ventures; Barclays Black Formation Investments, managed by Zeal Capital Partners; Roxann Stafford, managing and creative director at Blueprint FTC; Virginie Raphael, founder and managing partner at FullCircle; Bistro Partners; Shani Taylor, a scout for Bain Capital Ventures; Cindy Holland, CEO of Sister; and Mohammad Almalkawi, chief technology officer at Clubhouse, per the press release provided to AFROTECH™.
“Building in the consumer social space is tough, and it’s been a long time since we’ve had a social app breakthrough in a meaningful way, but I think Maya and Lexi are onto something,” Hudson said. “I’ve already caught myself wishing I could add someone on why?!, send them a question, use it to start a conversation with a new acquaintance. I’m excited to be a part of why?! at this early stage and look forward to seeing how the conversations grow.”
The conversation application is currently in private beta and plans to launch to the public in the fall. For those looking to join the waitlist, click here.
