While everyone builds AI companions, 222 bets on real human connection.

The YC W23 startup just raised $10.1M to scale their "IRL social facilitator" that uses AI to match strangers for offline experiences.

• Founded by 3 friends (ages 22-24) who met in high school/college
• Started as Zoom research project → backyard dinners → full platform
• 16 employees, moved LA → NYC for expansion
• $17 per event or $22/month subscription model
• 100-question compatibility survey powers ML matching

How it happened:
• Built MVP during Web3 hype (investors kept asking "have you tokenized your event?")
• Secured initial $10K from Z Fellows + backing from 1517 Fund/General Catalyst
• Applied to YC twice, got in on second try
• Hit 18-month goals in 2 months through YC acceleration
• Leveraged AI hype cycle for Series A ("company has ML core to it")
• Focused on investors who believed in IRL experiences vs digital-first VCs

The contrarian bet: making money only when people meet IRL and enjoy it enough to return.

Takeaway: Sometimes the best tech play is using AI to get people offline.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/in-an-age-of-ai-this-startup-is-betting-on-irl-69608cd4

Brewed by Startup Beaker.