Yope raises $12.3M to build a private social network without algorithms or ads | TechCrunch
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Yope, a fast-growing social app focused on private groups of friends and family, has raised $12.3 million in seed funding. Instead of chasing creators and algorithmic feeds, the startup is betting that the future of social networking lies in small, private communities powered by messaging, photo sharing, and AI features designed to strengthen real-world relationships.

Focused on private groups of friends and family, Yope has raised $12.3 million in seed funding from investors betting that the future of social networking lies in small, private communities powered by messaging, photo sharing, and, blergh, AI features designed to strengthen real-world relationships. It sounds kinda like old-school Facebook meets the fediverse, but with AI.

  • terabyterex@lemmy.worldEnglish
    71·
    2 days ago

    the fediverse works because its not trying to make money. if this company raised money already that means people believe they will see a return. so how does it make money?

    i cant read the article because i guess techcrinch has i trusive ads and doesnt like my ad blocker

    • timroerstroem@feddit.dkEnglish
      26·
      2 days ago

      It’s also not supported by advertising, instead focusing on developing a premium, subscription-based experience for power users.

      That and VC, apparently.

        • NotSteve_@lemmy.caEnglish
          8·
          2 days ago

          Well, It’ll work for the founder(s) who will probably sell the company at the height of the platform’s popularity for stupid amounts of money.

          The new owners (or the OG VC investors) will want a return on their investment though, of course, and the platform will rapidly enshitify pushing out the userbase. Or maybe the users will just deal with it because of the network effect and all. Eitherway the founder(s) will have gotten rich off the sale so they don’t care anymore which is pretty much the only goal in founding a company at this stage of capitalism

    • artifex@piefed.socialOPEnglish
      2·
      2 days ago

      That’s weird. I’m running FF with noscript and ublock origin and am able to read it. But anyway to answer your question it looks like they will have basic and premium user/group types, with the latter being paid.

      • lyralycan@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        3·
        2 days ago

        I use Adguard Home and my browser has uBlock Origin and I can read it just fine, but I suspect it’s a regional thing. Some countries may allow blocking because of an adblocker whereas some don’t. Most of my country’s news outlets now say “accept ads and cookies or reject and pay money”, and they’re starting to be able to block the reading mode workaround.

        • Ludicrous0251@piefed.zipEnglish
          3·
          2 days ago

          It’s interesting, when I first opened the article, I was denied because adblock, but I clicked it again and it loaded the second time. They may be A/B testing something or it could be it really didn’t like that my initial click was a fresh incognito tab was too sanitized. Who knows.