German Start-Up Born raises $15M Series A for AI companion

Berlin-based AI startup Born has raised $15 million in Series A funding led by Accel, with participation from Tencent and Laton Ventures, as the company expands its social AI companion platform that encourages collaborative interaction rather than isolated chatbot experiences.

Founded by CEO Fabian Kamberi alongside co-founders Jannis Ringwald and Stefan Quernhorst, Born creates AI characters designed for shared experiences, with flagship product Pengu enabling users to collaboratively raise virtual pets with friends and family. Unlike traditional AI companions focused on one-on-one conversations, Born's platform emphasizes group interaction and real-world relationship building.

Since launching in 2022, Born has released five apps that reached #1 globally on the App Store, with Pengu alone attracting over 15 million users worldwide. The platform operates on a freemium model with premium subscriptions unlocking additional features and characters.

The funding will accelerate product development, expand the team, and establish a New York office for AI research and marketing. Born plans to launch new AI characters and a social AI product targeting users aged 13-21, featuring culturally diverse AI friends capable of more peer-like interactions.

Born positions itself as addressing digital loneliness by creating AI experiences that enhance rather than replace human connection, differentiating from chatbot-centric platforms through collaborative gameplay and shared responsibilities that strengthen real-world relationships.

Founders: Fabian Kamberi, Jannis Ringwald, Stefan Quernhorst

Sources: Born Press Release, TechCrunch