Spill is a social media platform founded and led by Alphonzo Terrell, the former global head of editorial at Twitter, that focuses on live video conversations called “Tea Parties” and community-driven features. The app has added social gaming — a live, multiplayer Spades game that averages about 30 minutes per game — which has materially improved user retention. Spill has been building an advertising business and has closed test campaigns with entertainment partners like Paramount+; average ad spend per campaign on the platform has increased by 400%. The company reported roughly 200,000 users around the time it raised a $2 million seed extension last year. Management says Spill is on track to cross $1 million in annualized revenue next year and is continuing to develop additional products and innovations. The platform positions itself as a safer, community-centered space for Black, Brown, and LGBTQIA users to discuss cultural and civic issues. Spill is a social networking app built to center Black, queer, women and non-binary communities, and it emphasizes community-driven experiences over algorithmic engagement. The app is still in invite-only beta and has grown to roughly 200,000 users since its June beta launch. Its product includes features like Tea Party, a live-hosted experience similar to Instagram Live, which has featured celebrity hosts such as Kerry Washington. Spill has attracted advertising partners including Netflix, Lionsgate, VH1, Showtime and Sony Pictures, and says it has not paid for user acquisition to date. The company plans to exit beta and open to the public next year and has stated intentions to pay creators for cultural contributions on the platform. Spill’s leadership includes founder and CEO Alphonzo Terrell, who started the company after being laid off from Twitter and built the initial pitch with former colleague DeVaris Brown. Spill is building a social feed where users post short messages called “spills” and can host in-app and IRL events called “tea parties.” The app emphasizes meme culture with easy tools for adding text to images and GIFs, and plans to surface and credit creators who start trends using blockchain technology (explicitly not paying out in crypto). The team is small—fewer than 10 employees—and includes three strategic advisors: Dantley Davis, April Reign, and DeRay Mckesson. CTO DeVaris Brown is developing an AI moderation model designed to understand Black dialects and reduce false offensive flags. Spill has accrued 60,000 handle reservations since its December reveal and plans an alpha launch in the first quarter of the year. The company will use funding to expand the team and hire for engineering and community management roles.

Total raised

$5M

Funding rounds

3

Latest round

Seed

Latest activity

Nov 2023