Born Raises $15M Series A to Redefine AI Companions Through Shared Social Experiences

Berlin-based startup Born, led by CEO and co-founder Fabian Kamberi, has secured a $15M Series A, bringing its total funding to $25M from backers including Accel, Tencent, and Laton Ventures. The company, formerly known as Slay, is building AI companions designed to foster connection rather than isolation, with a focus on shared experiences.

Born’s flagship app Pengu, a generative AI-powered virtual pet, encourages users to co-parent and play with friends or partners, attracting more than 15 million users worldwide. With fresh funding, the company plans to release new characters, expand its AI research, and open a New York office led by Enrico Dal Re.

Kamberi emphasized that the future of consumer AI lies in emotionally intelligent companions that deepen real-world relationships, moving beyond one-to-one chatbot models.

Featured image: Credit: Born

Need Deeper Intelligence on the AI Market?

AI Insider's Market Intelligence platform tracks funding rounds, competitive landscapes, and technology trends across the global AI ecosystem in real time. Get the data and insights your organization needs to make informed decisions.

Related Articles

a computer circuit board with a brain on it
Top 20 AI Vertical Workflow App CEOs You Need to Know in 2026

Artificial intelligence is rapidly moving beyond general-purpose chatbots and into industry-specific software that automates entire business processes. Known as vertical workflow applications, these platforms are designed

Claude’s Paying Consumer Base Grows 75% in 2026 as Anthropic Closes Gap With ChatGPT

Anthropic’s Claude is gaining significant ground with paying consumers, according to credit card transaction data from Indagari, which analyses anonymised spending patterns across approximately 28

ai materials
Unconventional AI Unveils Oscillator-Based Architecture Promising 1,000x Inference Efficiency

Unconventional AI, a startup founded by Naveen Rao, formerly head of AI at Databricks, has released its first AI model and an accompanying research paper

Stay Updated with AI Insider

Get the latest AI funding news, market intelligence, and industry insights delivered to your inbox weekly.

$ 0 M

Seed round tracked

Gitar — Code Validation

Get the Weekly Briefing

Funding analysis, market intelligence, and industry trends delivered to your inbox every week.

Need bespoke intelligence?

Our team combines real-time data with decades of sector experience to guide your decisions.

Subscribe today for the latest news about the AI landscape