January Edition
What Gen Z thinks about social apps, deal flow from chats, highlight key founders I met with, and jobs in entrepreneurship & VC field
Greetings Kings and Queens!
Hi, welcome to the January edition of The Group Chat Queen newsletter. I am Natalie, the creator of The Group Chat Queen. I have had 3+ years of experience managing and creating 300+ chats for different universities, startups, and organizations. Coming from a non-target and non-traditional background, I found out about entrepreneurship and VC purely from group chats. So, I created this platform to share out resources, tips, and connections from this space to show a different perspective on building community.
What I’ve Been Up to
Currently, I am volunteering for Meagan Loyst’s VC 101 course with over 1,000 members in Maven as the community lead. Her course talks about tips on how to become an expert on the VC/Growth landscape, from Meagan’s perspective. I have been meeting with so many bright and kind minds from this course, which has taught me more about how to create the best coffee chat experience.
4th week in my final semester at Penn State and I finally made the decision two weeks ago to go full-time into the workforce. The plan previously was to go straight into grad school in engineering but now I will do MBA while working. Due to past experience, I am interested in positions involving climate research, VC/ growth analyst, PM, and engineering management. Let me know if have any intros/resources.
Main Feature: What Gen Z Thinks about Social Apps
In the consumer social space, we talk a lot about increasing user engagement, how to draw more users to an app, and competitors' social apps.
In my Media & Society class last semester, I was able to survey 30+ Gen Zers to see not what the creators, but the users of social apps want. In these quotation marks, they are showcasing what they want their dream social app to have. I will post later a more comprehensive view of the other 30+ opinions in the edition of my newsletter coming out at the end of the month.
I categorized it into 4 themes which are purpose, suggestions, features, and monetizing. These are the most recurring responses I saw (along with the most unique ones).
Purpose:
“only one take, no do-overs, not photoshopped bodies, no unbelievably high expectations, just a platform in which everyone can relate to, to be real, to be authentic."
It would serve as a starting point in media and society to show the real world, not some perfect scenario. Similar to how BeReal should've worked, you have to capture the moment as it is.
“having some sort of accountability app or device that limits the amount of time we can be on social media."
A recurring trend was having the ability to reduce the time spend on a social app along with the ability to have everything on one platform. We are burdened by interacting with digital content, yet we still use this as a source of escape.
Suggestions:
“Removing the like button would allow people to not have to worry about whether people like their content or not."
A lot of students addressed how they wanted the like button to not be available. This reflects how IG now has the option to hide the number of likes now. The new focus on social media platforms in 2023 is the focus on micro-communities. This means not having 300K+ followers with low engagement but focusing more niche with deeper conversations.
“notifications will be hourly based instead of having constant messages every time a new alert pops up in your feed."
This was an interesting thought that was repeated. The ability to set your notifications on an hourly basis or only for important contacts based on your current situation. Overall, personalization is a huge takeaway.
Features:
“The functions of the device/app would monitor our time on social media and sort of "kick" us out when we have reached a certain time limit."
This highlights the previous concerns about being on social media for too long. Gen Z is in a mental health crisis and social apps like TikTok play a huge part in it. Apps like Myppl, which is a group wellness app that is perfect for groups of close friends. It gives personalized nudges based on psychological science.
Monetizing
“monetize on the "Social media is harmful" movement by creating a badge for advertisers to put on their products certifying them for using a safer platform to advertise.” This was an interesting perspective on creating a platform based on reducing social media use. I assume ads on the platform would have a badge on them, that shows they are against high usage of social platforms. This would definitely cater to the newer Gen Z brands that focus on more organic forms of media.
“A platform such as this could be predominantly monetized with company partnerships and account user subscription "packages.”
Charging everyone who downloads the app would likely limit people from wanting to download or use the app as they would probably want to opt for a free option. However, the concept of offering different levels of social media might be worth it. Platforms like nas.io and Threado focus on creators taking back control of their community with exclusive memberships. This was widely asked in the survey to have a subscription option.
Deal Flow From Group Chats
Alltum- a platform that reduces the email and administrative burden that most professional services workers have to deal with. They help users save 1+ hour per day, making them more productive, happier, and more compliant.
Sector: Future of Work
Kalga Labs- a Web 3.0 company incorporated in Singapore. They believe NRTs and Blockchain are the future of entertainment.
Sector: Blockchain/Crypto
Choosii: is building the most satisfying social-commerce platform for collectors.
Sector: Consumer Social
Mailio
:a versatile tool designed to help creators share their email as a link on IGSector: Creator Economy
Chalq: democratizing blockchain education on a global scale through our Microlearning course videos and real-time AI-based Learning Management System.
Edtech; Blockchain/Crypto
New Group Chats in Database
I added a lot of blockchain/ crypto/ web 3 ones. All the links are here
DRESSX: The largest metacloset of digital-only clothes, NFT fashion items, and AR looks.
Midjourney: is an independent research lab exploring new mediums of thought and expanding the imaginative powers of the human species focused on design, human infrastructures, and AI.
Wand: Wield the power of infinite creative energy. Assisted by AI with the magic of a wand. Launching soon.
Alethea AI: Building at the intersection of Generative AI and Blockchain.
Alnauts: a community of AI explorers.
Feel free to add more group chats to the database!
💫 Founders Highlight👏🏾
Mike Ding: building a neo-investment banking platform that makes it easy to buy and sell digitally-native SMBs
Ask: meet with Fintech investors
Shirley Yu: a social space for collectors buying, selling, and nerd out about the things they love
Ask: meet with VC, angels focusing on niche/nerd social, passion communities, creator economy, social commerce, women/under-represented founders
Mila Patel: founder of Blora Beauty, an “inverted” skincare brand that uses tobacco seed oil to target skincare issues and their effects.
Ask: looking for technical hire
Zarina Bahadur: Founder of 123babybox, which is a monthly subscription box for babies based on their age and developmental stage.
Ask: meet with investors
Jobs and Resources 💼
I have been getting a lot of requests for things to add to this edition, so here it is..
marisummerss (Twitter handle) recently started an AMAZING GRE study group!
daryllimwd (Twitter handle) newsletter: https://t.co/4B7cHnAzUa
Meagan Loyst’s Gen Z VC job board
launch of http://communitiesbook.com about virtual communities
Stephanie Palazzolo: Personal news: Last week I finished up my fellowship at @BusinessInsider and am starting today as a reporter covering AI, consumer tech, and young investors/founders. So excited to be working with such an incredible team! If you want to chat, email me at spalazzolo@insider.com.
Marc Adriel Villafuerte is hiring at MiraclePlus for Deal Souring Intern:
You can contact him at: marcadrielv@gmail.com if interested
Five Mistakes with Decks:
ASKS:
Let me know if there are any other founders and investors I should meet with. You can contact me at ncn9@psu.edu
Any intros to post-graduation jobs in VC, private equity, climate tech, VC fellowships, etc.
Add group chats to the database: https://www.thegroupchatqueen.com/group-chat-database
If there is any feedback on this new edition, feel free to reach out and let me know if you want to be featured on the next article.