Summary:
Grouphug is a new app generating memes from WhatsApp group chats.
Led by Felix Petersen, known for successful B2C apps.
Generative AI will be key to unlocking more value from private group chats.
The startup raised €1.5 million in pre-seed funding.
Team includes experts in AI, humor, and consumer apps.
Meet Grouphug
Veterans of the European startup scene, who’ve launched multiple consumer apps in the past, are partially coming out of stealth Tuesday with their new app, Grouphug. At first glance, Grouphug appears to simply generate memes from WhatsApp group chats, but there's much more in store.
The Vision Behind Grouphug
Led by Felix Petersen, an experienced B2C founder known for creating the Amen and Plazes apps, Grouphug is currently allowing users to export text from their group WhatsApp chats and generate humorous images from that content. However, this is just a taste of what’s to come.
Petersen hinted at TechCrunch that the company plans to leverage generative AI to unlock more value from WhatsApp groups. He stated, “We think we’ve cracked AI humor. For now, Grouphug will create jokes based on what happened in the group. We turn your WhatsApp chats into memes. But then we have other plans for it.”
The Opportunity
Petersen emphasizes that while many discussions happen in public forums like Reddit or X, WhatsApp group chats remain largely private, presenting a unique opportunity for Grouphug.
Funding and Team
The startup has successfully raised €1.5 million ($1.7 million) in a pre-seed round led by Berlin-based Blueyard VC, along with contributions from Tiny VC, Charles Songhurst (a Meta board member), Atlantic Labs, and others. Petersen's team also includes Joseph Djenandji, who recently exited his multi-channel travel brand LostIn, and Matthew Balazsi, an AI and ML specialist with a decade of experience.
Image Credits: Aytac Unal/Anadolu Agency / Getty Images
Comments