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We all know the feeling when we send a shady TikTok video , anticipating a response from a friend , only to have a basic laughing emoji or , uncollectible , no reaction at all . Seenaims to solve this with its new social app , where friends commemorate a alive picture chemical reaction to content you send them .
The video message app , uncommitted on iOS machine , was co - founded by veteran entrepreneur Faheem Kajee and actress Karen Gillan , easily known for her role as Nebula in “ Guardians of the Galaxy . ”
With Seen , you may send video in private one - on - one iMessages or group chats with up to 11 people . When recipients are transport subject , they must record a video of themselves , which is only view by the transmitter and mutual Friend in the group schmoose . The sender then has to reciprocate with a video of themselves react to their supporter ’s chemical reaction . The company desire its app will make an authentic and engaging way to interact with friends .
One of the app ’s primal features is a TikTok integration , allowing you to share video with your friends on attend directly from the TikTok app . The app also offers a scrollable provender of popular TikTok videos as well as the ability to upload videos from your iPhone ’s television camera roller . Integrations with YouTube Shorts and Instagram Reels will be introduced in the future .
Seen launched on theApp Storeearlier this calendar month and already has thousand of users . The company said it has plans to wander out an Android version soon , but it did n’t deal a specific launch date .
“ Our broad goal is create a platform that help people link up with one another that feel very real , ” Kajee secernate TechCrunch . “ [ Sharing video reactions ] is better than just getting a quarter round - up back . It prompts a wide conversation , and there ’s a sense of termination from seeing somebody ’s chemical reaction . ”
Kajee is the co - founder of three other startup : drink companyMoment , e - commerce platform Initial and fashion social app find ( formerly Pashash ) . Meanwhile , this will be Gillan ’s first time constitute a technical school startup .
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“ [ Gillan ] has been involved in both the factual conceptualization and the nitty - farinaceous process , which has been amazing and very unexpected for a big Hollywood actress … Karen is really helpful for the distribution stuff , ” Kajee said .
In add-on to having a movie star topology as a father to avail with user increment , the app has receive bread and butter from notable investors , include Twitter co - founding father Ev Williams , Twitch co - founder Kevin Lin , former Crunchyroll CEO Kun Gao , founding CEO of Rotten Tomatoes Patrick Lee and others , result in a aggregate of $ 1 million in financing .
Reacting to secret television messages is just the first iteration of Seen . The fellowship later plans to introduce a public feed to discover other exploiter and is also believe the possibility of popular content creators interact with fans one - on - one to get their reactions before post videos . Other potential use font for the app could be remain firm - up comic testing out raw jokes or seeing a reaction from an “ investor when they open a pitch shot pack of cards , ” Kajee say .
The company also intend to insert monetization features like insurance premium offer such as plot and filter within the app . advertizing is another domain it want to explore , however , Seen is taking an interesting approach that aims to gather user reaction data .
“ Those datum points are so worthful , and it ’s something that nobody else has access to , which makes it really interesting , ” he said .
response messenger appshave been a vogue among startups in the past times — such asGather , Reactr andSamba — yet did n’t appear to take off as founders may have hoped . Now , 10 class later , the launching of Seen comes at a time when there is a growing demand for more veritable and meaningful connection online , specially among the younger contemporaries . The founders hope that this app will address the need for genuine interactions , specially at a time when many people are feeling the effects of a lonesomeness epidemic .