Berlin's Born Secures $15M for AI Companion Platform
From left to right: Baran Yildirim, Fabian Kamberi, Jannis Ringwald and Stefan Quernhorst - © Born
Berlin-based consumer AI startup Born has closed a $15 million Series A funding round to accelerate development of what it calls "AI friends"—digital companions designed to form lasting connections with users. The round was led by Accel, with participation from Tencent and Laton Ventures, according to information from the company's press release.
Born distinguishes itself in the crowded AI landscape by focusing on emotional resonance rather than utility. Unlike traditional chatbots, the company creates AI characters that "grow, evolve, and connect like humans," aiming to build what CEO Fabian Kamberi describes as "social, emotionally resonant, and culturally relevant companions."
The startup's flagship product, Pengu, has become a breakout success since Born's 2022 launch. The AI character app has attracted over 15 million users globally and achieved the distinction of being the largest AI character platform with proprietary intellectual property in the United States. Users can raise, play with, and even "co-parent" their digital companions with friends and family.
The fresh capital will fuel Born's ambitious expansion plans, including opening a US office in New York and scaling new characters for the Pengu platform. The company is also developing a stealth social AI product that's reportedly showing strong early traction.
Born's investor roster reads like a who's who of consumer technology, featuring Supercell Co-Founder Ilkka Paananen, King Co-Founder Riccardo Zacconi, former Adobe CPO Scott Belsky, and The Chainsmokers' Alexander Pall. This backing reflects growing confidence in Born's vision for the next generation of consumer AI.
"The AI space has seen rapid advances in infrastructure and B2B, but little movement in delivering real value to consumers," said 26-year-old CEO Kamberi in the press release. The young entrepreneur, who previously wrote a bestseller while in high school, co-founded Born with Jannis Ringwald and Stefan Quernhorst.
With five #1 global social apps already under its belt and $25 million raised to date, Born is positioning itself as a category leader in consumer-focused artificial intelligence, moving beyond simple chat experiences toward truly social digital relationships.