Maven is a social media platform built around an AI-powered “serendipity network” that prioritizes novelty over popularity. Created by former OpenAI researcher Kenneth Stanley with co-founders Blas Moros and Jimmy Secretan, the service asks new users to choose topics and then uses an open-ended algorithm to surface related discussions without likes, follows or retweets. Posts are automatically tagged to matching interest pages, and a “serendipity slider” lets members explore content that sits further from their stated preferences. The product soft-launched in late January and publicly debuted in May after a Wired feature, bringing in thousands of sign-ups. While small compared with rivals such as Bluesky and Mastodon, early users praise its low-toxicity, interest-focused experience. Financially, Maven has raised $2 million to date and is evaluating subscription revenue while steering clear of ad-driven virality, though it may eventually license its valuable interest-graph data to AI companies.

Total raised

$2M

Funding rounds

1

Latest round

Equity

Latest activity

May 2024