Social Startups

Issues is a web service that connects residents' local policy concerns with elected politicians, enabling direct feedback on civic issues. The platform presents policy topics with arguments and data from both perspectives, allowing users to register their preferences so local politicians can consider resident needs in policymaking.

1 investor

Japanese company that builds consumer mobile products, including tonton, an app that lets users earn pocket money while studying English vocabulary, and a social media operation service focused on street interviews.

1 investor

NOBU Planning is a Tokyo-based "communication tech" company that provides creative and branding services—copywriting, naming, and vision development—aimed at helping small businesses and startups better communicate their products and services. It also operates Popdish, a vertical-video food SNS for discovering restaurants.

1 investor

SPRING OF FASHION runs STYLISTA, a shopping social network where anyone can act as a stylist by curating and recommending coordinated outfits and items to followers. The service links real retail stores with digital commerce to serve fashion shoppers and enthusiasts in Japan.

1 investor

A Japanese company offering a lifestyle service that connects families living apart and local communities, aimed at helping people stay healthy and connected. It focuses on maintaining ties between separated family members and neighborhoods.

1 investor

Tamemap is a location-based platform that helps users discover nearby events they can attend immediately, using GPS mapping and real-time event information. The service targets people seeking local activities and community events in their accessible area.

1 investor

Hattendo Farm operates a social business combining agriculture with welfare employment and value-added food production. The company matches labor-short farmers with employment-seeking welfare facilities, then adds secondary and tertiary industries through processing and storytelling to create products like jam bread and confectionery incorporating farm-grown fruits and vegetables.

1 investor

Matsuli (株式会社祭) is a Japanese company operating "Itsudemo Okaeri," an SNS app for jotting down daily moments and anonymous, low-pressure social interaction based on psychological design principles. It also runs "Ebikatsu," an invitation-based open space combining an office and share house that hosts community events.

1 investor

Lizhi is a web-based audio content platform that provides recording technology services, information storage space services, and internet live streaming for audio creators and listeners in China.

1 investor

Auxxit is an all-in-one platform for running buy-sell-trade communities, offering live events, auctions, mystery boxes, chat, seller ratings, and payment/shipping tools in one place. Community organizers can set their own transaction fees and manage member profiles, verification, and communication for many-to-many marketplaces.

0 investors

BaseConnect builds a secure, private social network and communication tools (including its ReCaller feature) for military operators, designed to connect troops, communities, and businesses without collecting or monetizing personal data. Its primary customer is the U.S. Department of Defense and related military organizations, with a commercial extension called CityConnect.

0 investors

The Bay Area Black Nurses Association is a professional membership organization for registered nurses, nursing educators, and students in the Bay Area, founded in 1969. The organization provides scholastic support, mentoring, and financial assistance to nursing students while advocating for healthcare policy and community health initiatives.

0 investors

Beli is a mobile app for food lovers to find, rank, and track restaurants, offering personalized recommendations based on a user's tastes. It functions as a restaurant discovery and review product for consumers.

0 investors

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Washington County is a nonprofit mentoring organization that matches adult volunteers ("Bigs") with local children ("Littles") for one-on-one and group mentorship, including a Little Leadership Academy group program run with community partners. It serves youth and families in Washington County, Maryland.

0 investors

BUCKiTDREAM is a consumer app for capturing personal bucket-list goals and browsing curated bucket lists, with tools for budgeting, goal-setting, and tracking progress on each dream. It includes a social component that lets users share their experiences with friends and a community of other users.

0 investors

Chinese Radio Seattle is a radio broadcaster serving the Chinese-speaking community in the Seattle area, offering programming in Mandarin and Cantonese across news, entertainment, music, and lifestyle topics. Founded in 2012, it operates on AM 1150 and HD 98.9 FM, with content available via web, mobile apps, and live broadcasts.

0 investors

Civic Media operates a statewide radio network in Wisconsin that broadcasts local news, conversations, and music across multiple platforms including broadcast, streaming, and podcasts. The company prioritizes community-focused content on local and regional issues to foster civic engagement and common ground.

0 investors

Common House operates membership-based social clubs offering dining, co-working, rooftop lounges, and regular programming in curated "third spaces." It serves members in mid-sized U.S. cities including Charlottesville, Richmond, and Chattanooga.

0 investors

Emcee is an investment firm with teams covering equities, fixed income, and distribution. It provides investment management services through its leadership and internal investment team.

0 investors

The Exotics Network builds a community platform for exotic car owners worldwide, organizing events and experiences that connect members through shared passion for high-performance vehicles.

0 investors

Flower Ave Inc develops the anonymous social apps Sidechat and Yik Yak. The company operates in the consumer social media space.

0 investors

Hangar Club operates a members-only social club in Denver offering social events, networking, and dining experiences. It announced a partnership with Clayton Club, another private club in Denver's Cherry Creek neighborhood.

0 investors

Kotofit operates a sports community platform and pro shop focused on racket sports such as badminton, pickleball, and ping pong, offering equipment and stringing services. It aims to make these sports accessible while connecting players through community activities.

0 investors

Lone Palm Labs is a consumer technology company building social applications for friends and family. Its main product, Retro, is a friends-only photo journal app available on iOS and Android.

0 investors