Berlin Startup Born Raises $15M to Redefine AI Companions as Social Experiences

Born is also opening a New York office later this year, led by head of finance Enrico Dal Re, to strengthen marketing and AI research.

Berlin-based startups Born is betting that the future of AI companions lies in shared experiences rather than isolating one-to-one chatbot interactions. CEO and co-founder Fabian Kamberi argues that most AI companions on the market encourage dependency and deepen loneliness. “It feels like it fuels the loneliness epidemic, instead of making it more fun and giving users the opportunity to make their lives better,” he told TechCrunch. His vision is for AI to strengthen human connections rather than replace them.

Born’s flagship app features Pengu, a virtual pet that users raise and co-parent with friends or partners. Think Tamagotchi for the AI generation. Beyond feeding and playing minigames with Pengu, the experience is designed to spark real-world collaboration. The app operates on a freemium model, with a Pengu Pass subscription unlocking extra features. Born says it has reached more than 15 million users worldwide, though it has not disclosed how many pay. That social-first thesis has attracted major investors. The company, formerly known as Slay, recently closed a $15 million Series A, bringing total funding to $25 million from backers including Accel, Tencent, and Laton Ventures. The startup’s roots in Slay, a teen-focused compliment-sharing app reveal a consistent mission: make digital interactions feel lighter and more social. With fresh capital, Born plans to roll out new characters in the Pengu app, including one that doubles as a learning companion. It is also preparing another AI product aimed at users aged 16 to 21, though the app will be open to kids as young as 13. Kamberi hinted that this next release will allow users to create culturally relevant AI friends that interact like real peers, even sharing TikTok clips or Instagram Reels based on a user’s social media habits.

Born is also opening a New York office later this year, led by head of finance Enrico Dal Re, to strengthen marketing and AI research. The company is working on making its characters more consistent in personality, memory, and growth over time. For Accel partner Luca Bocchio, the appeal is clear. “We’ve been really impressed by the team’s ability to develop chart-topping apps and their inspiring product vision,” he said.