Nyborg’s Amorai Aims to Address Gen Z Loneliness and Relationship Health with an AI-powered Coaching App to Help Build Close Human Connections
San Francisco, 27 April 2023, 4:30am PST — Today we announce Amorai Corp., a new health and well-being company created by Renate Nyborg with support from Andrew Ng, has raised its pre-seed funding round.
Amorai harnesses AI to enhance real-world relationships. The round is led by AI Fund and Andrew Ng is joining Amorai’s board. The raise also includes strategic angel investors such as Megan Jones Bell, Psy.D (Clinical Director of Mental Health, Google), Jim Lanzone (CEO, Yahoo), Eileen Burbidge (Passion Capital), André Heinz, Peter Rojas, Balance Pilot Capital (Charles Campbell Roberts) and Joe Zadeh (former Airbnb VP Product).
Amorai’s mission is to help one billion people master the skill of human connection. Its first product is an AI relationship coaching app targeting young adults from 18-30 years old. The app offers personalized coaching exercises, primarily crafted and curated for Gen Z. Structured as a vertical AI product, the app builds on LLM (large language model) technology, has a subscription business model, and is designed to be private, safe and secure from day one. The app will launch exclusively on iOS, leveraging Apple’s native health features and privacy standards.
The problem of loneliness is well documented. The Pew Research Centre reports a 25% decline in partnered relationships over the past 30 years and the 2021 American Perspectives Survey reported that 1 in 8 US adults have no close friends. Cost is also a barrier - while more than 1 in 3 members of Gen Z has tried coaching or therapy, many can't afford the $100-$200 hourly session rates.
Renate Nyborg, Amorai Founder & CEO says:
“Amorai was founded in response to the global rise of loneliness, and the steady decline in close relationships – from platonic to romantic. It often shocks people that this problem spikes amongst young people: more than four in five Gen Z’s say they feel lonely sometimes, or all of the time. Our first product is a relationship coach, because relationship struggles are a leading cause of anxiety, stress and suicide amongst young adults. With AI’s potential for real-world, societal benefits blossoming, starting this company with Andrew’s active support was a no-brainer.”
Andrew Ng, AI Fund Managing General Partner & Amorai Board Member says:
“After months of advanced research and testing prototypes with our target audience, I believe LLMs can be harnessed to help many individuals build richer, more fulfilling relationships. Relationships are what make our lives feel worthwhile, and I’m thrilled at Amorai’s vision of using AI to help this most human of problems. Relationships aren’t found, they are built, and Renate is an incredibly thoughtful executive that’s the perfect leader to make this a reality."
Listen to Renate’s interview with Peter Kafka ‘Inside The AI Gold Rush’ released today on the Recode Media podcast:
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