August 27, 2024
Antler invests in Spoony
We are incredibly excited to announce that global VC Antler is backing Spoony.
We are incredibly excited to announce that global VC Antler is backing Spoony.
We are incredibly excited to announce that global VC Antler is backing Spoony— the community platform for neurodivergent, chronically ill, and disabled people. Spoony will use Antler's investment to supercharge its product development and scale its presence globally.
We are also gearing up for a major launch on both iOS and Android and plan to use Antler’s Pre-Seed investment to drive user acquisition, marketing campaigns, and strategic partnerships to extend its reach and engage with a wider audience.
“Spoony stands out from other platforms,” says Mike Abbott, General Partner at Antler in Australia. "Nick and Kenneth have a very credible vision to seamlessly blend social connection with health management, offering a deep understanding of this community's needs. Competitors either focus on social niches like dating or exist purely as utilities.
“Along with having great team-product-fit with a founder who has lived experience within the problem space, at the time of investment the team had built a great MVP, the beta launch was off to a strong start and had encouraging early engagement metrics, and the platform was very much global from day one.
“What we also love about Spoony is that it’s more than just a product; it's a movement aimed at empowering a marginalised community by creating a sense of belonging. This in itself sets it apart from other digital platforms.”
Spoony, now in beta, has already attracted 30,000 users to its waitlist. Beta testers are using the platform 3-4 times a day and have reported a 25% reduction in loneliness.
“More and more people are identifying as being part of the neurodivergent, chronically ill, and disabled community, and we think this is the right product for this moment," says Nicholas Carlton, Co-Founder and CEO of Spoony.
“Spoony unlocks tremendous value for users, by creating a space where peer-to-peer support sits on a continuum alongside therapeutic and even clinical support.
“Working with Antler has been an incredible experience. Their guidance has allowed us to refine our product strategy, making it VC-backable. Mike's encouragement has inspired us to think big and set ambitious goals as we move forward into the future.”