Topic: social connection
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Airbnb-backed WeRoad lands $58M to expand group travel platform to US
Airbnb led a $58 million Series C funding round for WeRoad, a Milan-based group travel startup, to expand beyond Europe into the U.S., starting with Austin, Texas. WeRoad positions itself as a social platform for real-world connection, targeting Millennials and Gen Z by grouping travelers by shar...
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Dumb Co Challenge: Trading My iPhone for a Hacked Flip Phone
Lydia Peabody's friend using a flip phone for the Month Offline challenge inspired her to leave her career as a therapist and become the founding CMO of Dumb Co, a company selling flip phones that sync to smartphones. Dumb Co's flip phone installs custom software on a $20 TCL device, allowing acc...
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Clubhouse: The Meteoric Rise and Sudden Fall
Clubhouse rapidly rose to prominence as an audio-only social app, capitalizing on pandemic-era isolation and an exclusive, invite-only model to create a buzz around live, spontaneous conversations. Its growth stalled as pandemic restrictions eased, competition from integrated audio features on ma...
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UC Berkeley Students Lead the Fight Against Smartphones
78% of University of California, Berkeley undergraduates believe their phone use hinders deep thinking and creativity, sparking a student-led movement to disconnect. Students are using low-tech methods like physical fliers and signs for a "lowest screentime contest" to encourage reduced screen ti...
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TNW, Oneflow, and Flexas host free Amsterdam networking event
On June 3, a free networking event hosted by TNW, Oneflow, and Flexas at Flexas.com in Amsterdam will feature a curated speaker panel and solid food in a space designed for genuine, engaging conversations. The event aims to combat "networking fatigue" by focusing on meaningful interactions and re...
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Why Boomers Are Over This Menu Trend (And We Get It)
A millennial couple's attempt at a screen-free New Year's resolution was undermined by restaurants requiring QR codes for surveys and menus, highlighting the pervasive intrusion of phones into dining. Despite being technologically adept, the author sides with boomers in opposing QR menus, arguing...
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Mirror founder’s new game startup Board raises $20M, sells thousands
Board, a "together tech" startup, raised $20 million in Series A funding led by Union Square Ventures, with its flagship device blending physical board games with digital interactivity. The company, now in tens of thousands of locations nationwide, reports that 85% of customers average 30 or more...
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