Accel, Tencent Back AI Companion App Born in $15M Series A

Berlin-based AI companion app Born has secured $15 million in a Series A funding round. The round was led by Accel, with participation from Tencent and Laton Ventures. This latest investment brings the startup's total funding to $25 million. Born's primary product is Pengu, a virtual penguin character that has garnered over 15 million registered users. The app employs a unique "co-parenting" concept, enabling users to interact with the character collaboratively. Unlike companions with pre-programmed responses, Pengu utilizes generative AI models, including those from OpenAI, to develop a dynamic personality that evolves through user interactions. The company intends to allocate the newly raised capital towards product expansion, which includes introducing new characters and a human-style companion. Additionally, Born plans to establish a New York office. This funding announcement occurs amid heightened scrutiny of AI chatbots regarding safety. In response to these concerns, Born emphasizes its implementation of content filters and human oversight to mitigate risks, complementing the existing safeguards provided by OpenAI.