Slow Ventures

Dew Drops is a platform for artists and creators to sell their animated artworks to collectors via text messages.

Ghost Message enables users to send an anonymous message to pals in a group chat to flirt, make jokes, or pose queries.

Comm Technologies is focused on enhancing end-to-end (E2E) encryption through the development of a crypto-native messaging platform. This platform allows users to acquire non-fungible tokens (NFTs) while maintaining their online anonymity. By utilizing personal private servers and key servers, Comm Technologies offers a web3 chat solution that ensures secure communication and adheres to specific notification restrictions. This approach enables clients to manage their communications effectively through a unified inbox, while also facilitating the scaling of E2E encryption for enhanced privacy.

Symbiose Technologies is a communications company that creates AI-powered products that bring unprecedented depth, memory, and serendipity to your conversations. Symbiose is creating the highest-fidelity way to communicate -- a new paradigm for messaging and audio where conversations transform.

Distrobird provides a unified go-to-market platform for businesses to manage inbound and outbound sales processes across email, SMS, calls, a shared inbox, form tracking, and lead routing. By integrating multiple workflows across channels, it automates manual tasks in lead management and sales closing, improves sales team productivity, and provides visibility into each prospect's journey through the funnel.

Building the truly open AI messaging platform

Founded in 2016, Chatdesk specializes in customer engagement software. It enables businesses to enhance interactions across email, chat, social media, and SMS platforms using AI-powered technology and a network of local experts speaking over 60 languages.

Ense operates a social platform that connects human voices to listeners by enabling the real-time capture and sharing of audible content. The company's content-sharing platform records audio instantly, allowing users to share melodies, conversations, and voice memos as they happen, thereby facilitating immediate, multimedia communication among members.

Front is a communication hub that centralizes customer interactions across various digital channels to enhance relationship management. The platform focuses on streamlining conversations by integrating collaboration tools and contextual data from multiple systems, allowing teams to provide timely, accurate, and personalized communications. Over 7,500 businesses, including notable names like Shopify, Airbnb, and Hulu, utilize Front to improve their customer engagement. The company's multi-channel inbox platform specializes in consolidating communication, facilitating internal discussions, and incorporating social features, thus enabling users to chat effectively and save time. By placing customer conversations at the forefront, Front empowers organizations to build stronger relationships through each interaction.

Sochat is an iOS and Android mobile messaging application and connection platform. It allows its users to publish groups nearby with a PIN to quickly gather up and share GIFs, photos, videos, disappearing messages, and drawings among its users. It also allows sending songs and YouTube videos, play rock paper scissors game, and poll friends and groups. Sochat is a U.S.-based company that was founded in 2014 by Lukens Orthwein.

Chime is a mobile communication application designed to facilitate video conversations among friends, family, and small groups. The platform allows users to create "Chimes," which are video conversations where participants can contribute throughout the day, resulting in a rich, collective narrative. This feature not only serves as a means of real-time communication but also acts as a lasting memory of shared experiences. By combining the simplicity of mobile communication with the personal touch of face-to-face interaction, Chime provides users with a private channel to engage and connect with loved ones through video chats, enhancing the intimacy of their conversations.

Hello Scout is a company dedicated to enhancing the travel experience for hotel guests by offering a text message and app-based concierge service. The platform connects guests with local experts who provide personalized recommendations and assistance, helping travelers discover hidden gems and book activities. By leveraging a combination of city experts and automated responses, Hello Scout ensures that interactions are seamless and accessible while guests explore their destinations. This innovative approach aims to make travel more relaxing, spontaneous, and unique, particularly for boutique hotels seeking to elevate their guest services.

Angel.ai, founded in February 2015, offers a text message-based personal concierge service that enables users to make various requests at any time of day. Utilizing Human Assisted Artificial Intelligence, the service connects clients with trained operators who assist with tasks such as ordering food, making restaurant reservations, and booking hotels or travel tickets. Angel.ai operates with a focus on user convenience, fulfilling on-demand requests without charge, aside from possible service costs, markups, or hidden fees. This approach allows clients to save time and streamline their everyday activities through simple text messages.

Lynk Messenger is a hyper-local messaging application that lets its users to chat with friends nearby for free, using its new Bluetooth messaging technology. It does not require Wi-Fi or data. Lynk Messenger allows its users to chat privately for free via low-energy Bluetooth; continue conversations around the world via Wi-Fi or data; create and join private group chats; own their privacy and stop giving out phone numbers; frictionless friend adding; completely free everywhere; share gifs, locations, and photos; and much more. Co-founded by Zachary Goldberg and Lukens Orthwein, Lynk Messenger was launched in 2014 and is based in Palo Alto, C.A.

Shyp, Inc. is a San Francisco-based company that offers a mobile application designed to simplify shipping needs. Founded in 2013, Shyp allows users to take photos of items they wish to ship and request a pickup. The service includes picking up the items, packing them, and sending them to any destination globally. Shyp connects with major carriers such as USPS, FedEx, and UPS, automatically determining the most efficient shipping option for each delivery. The platform provides features for selecting packaging, shipping insurance, and customizable pickup schedules, making the shipping process seamless for users.

Slack operates a cloud-based communication and collaboration platform for teams, enabling users to exchange messages, share files, integrate with business tools, and increase efficiency.

Swipe Labs, founded in 2013 and based in San Francisco, California, specializes in developing mobile communication applications that enhance the intimacy and privacy of user interactions. Their primary product allows users to share private photos and videos with select groups of friends, providing a more personal and secure way to communicate compared to public social media platforms. The company focuses on experimenting with new social products to improve mobile communication experiences for its users.

Chatous, Inc. is an online chat platform that facilitates social discovery through conversation. Founded in 2012 by three students from Stanford University, the company leverages big data algorithms to optimize user interactions. By utilizing a data-driven approach, Chatous predicts compatibility among users, enabling meaningful conversations. The platform continuously learns from user engagement, enhancing its ability to match individuals based on shared interests and conversational styles. This innovative methodology positions Chatous as a unique player in the social networking landscape.

Slack operates a cloud-based communication and collaboration platform for teams, enabling users to exchange messages, share files, integrate with business tools, and increase efficiency.

Cord Project Inc., established in 2014 and based in Brooklyn, New York, specializes in voice messaging technology. The company has developed an audio messaging platform that enables users to communicate through voice commands, facilitating both one-on-one and group conversations. Cord's application is designed to be user-friendly and efficient, allowing for quick and seamless voice communication on mobile devices like smartphones and tablets. Since January 20, 2016, Cord Project Inc. has operated as a subsidiary of Spotify USA Inc.

Yo is a mobile communication application that offers a straightforward and efficient single-tap zero character communication tool. This application allows users to connect easily by sending notifications from their favorite brands and enables them to inform their Instagram followers about new posts. Additionally, Yo facilitates the sharing of event notifications and location details with friends using just two taps. By simplifying communication, Yo aims to enhance user interactions in a fast-paced digital environment.

WUT, Inc. is a technology company based in San Francisco, California, founded in 2014. It specializes in developing a social messaging application that allows users to send anonymous and ephemeral messages to their friends. The application is designed to facilitate spontaneous and free-spirited interactions, enabling users to capture and share moments of banter with their social circle directly on their mobile devices. By focusing on anonymity and the temporary nature of messages, WUT aims to enhance the social messaging experience, catering to users who seek a more playful and casual form of communication.

Assist is a developer of a platform that provides automated services tailored for leading brands such as Fandango, 1800Flowers, and Hyatt. The platform aims to create a new standard by moving away from pre-defined scripts, offering users more dynamic and adventure-type experiences. It integrates seamlessly with major messaging platforms, utilizing its proprietary data and APIs to enhance user interactions. This approach enables customers to obtain the services they need with minimal friction, streamlining the overall experience.

Highlight is a mobile application designed to facilitate social connections among users in their vicinity. The app notifies users when they are in close proximity to others who share mutual friends or interests on Facebook, allowing for potential interactions. Users receive push notifications when they come within a few blocks of these individuals, enabling them to message each other. The app's homescreen features a reverse chronological list of people the user has encountered, enhancing the experience of discovering and engaging with nearby acquaintances. Highlight aims to foster a sense of community and connection in urban environments by leveraging social media networks.

Couple is an app just for the two of you. It helps you stay connected, and feel close to each other. Whether it's texting, sharing videos, photos, sketching together and more, Couple let's your partner know that you're thinking about them. Couple was part of the YCombinator W2012 batch, and was formerly named Pair until they renamed to Couple on January 31st, 2013.

PullString, Inc. is an entertainment and technology company based in San Francisco, California, that specializes in creating interactive applications for computer conversation with characters. Founded in 2011 and originally known as ToyTalk, the company offers the PullString Platform, which combines design and artificial intelligence to enable the development of conversation-based narratives across various media. This platform supports a wide range of applications, including voice and text interactions on major conversational platforms such as Facebook Messenger and Amazon Alexa. PullString's technology is utilized in diverse sectors, including entertainment, customer service, and gaming, allowing companies to create engaging conversational experiences. Notable projects include interactive characters like Hello Barbie and experiences related to popular franchises such as Call of Duty. The company focuses on empowering users to design, prototype, and publish engaging voice applications effectively.

Everyme is a social networking application that facilitates group communication for users globally, offering a free platform for sharing text, photos, and videos. Designed for both mobile devices and the web, Everyme serves as an alternative to traditional SMS groups, allowing users to customize group settings, manage access to shared content, and control notifications. The application enhances communication through features such as comments and cross-platform sharing, offering a more interactive experience than standard texting. Everyme prioritizes user privacy, enabling individuals to retain ownership of their shared content, export data, and delete their information at any time. The application is accessible on both Android and iOS devices and is a self-funded startup based in San Francisco, California.