An app named Why?! is looking to combat loneliness by fostering closeness among individuals who are feeling isolated. The company recently announced that they have successfully raised $1.65 million in a pre-seed round to support their mission.
Co-founded by Maya Watson and Lexi Nisita, both with backgrounds at Netflix and Clubhouse, Why?! was established in April 2023 with the goal of promoting meaningful conversations. The app achieves this by posing thought-provoking questions to initiate discussions within its user community. Additionally, Why?! facilitates private conversations between friends, allowing them to deepen their connections.
The name ‘Why?!’ signifies the app’s central objective of helping users get to know each other better. According to Nisita, asking the question ‘why’ enables individuals to delve into deeper layers of understanding. Watson views the app as a form of ‘social scaffolding,’ providing support for relationships to grow and flourish.
Despite facing challenges in the fundraising landscape, Watson and Nisita managed to secure investments from various sources, including Precursor Ventures and Mohammad Almalkawi, CTO of Clubhouse. The founders opted not to focus on AI-driven technology at this stage, as they believe that genuine human connections cannot be replaced by automated processes.
The app is currently undergoing beta testing, with plans for a gradual rollout via invitation in the upcoming months. The pre-seed funding will primarily be utilized to expand the app’s engineering team and bring it to a wider audience. In the future, Why?! intends to host intimate events across the country, where participants can engage in tailored question-based activities to foster closeness and connection.
