Chloë Drimal, a former employee of Snapchat where she was instrumental in developing the “Our Stories” feature, has introduced her own social application, Yoni Circle. This platform is designed as an exclusive, membership-based community intended to foster connections among womxn through the sharing of personal narratives – both in real-time video conversations and through stories accessible on demand.

The company has been operating in a closed beta phase since April 2020 and is now officially launching to the public.

Drimal’s concept for a social platform centered around storytelling originated, in part, from her observations while working on Snapchat’s “Our Stories” product.

“My experience showed me the power of shared stories to unite people,” she explains. “I was able to observe global events like New Year’s Eve celebrations and the Hajj pilgrimage, and I directly witnessed how interconnected we all are. I saw how this form of storytelling impacted Snapchat users, making them feel more connected to the wider world,” Drimal elaborates. “I observed firsthand how storytelling created a sense of global community.”

However, another source of inspiration stemmed from Drimal’s own professional journey, specifically being reassigned from the “Our Stories” project to other responsibilities at Snap – a challenging period that initially left her feeling isolated. She subsequently engaged in conversations with numerous women, often those with more life experience, who helped her realize she was not alone in her feelings.

“Their experiences gave me the strength to move forward and understand that this wasn’t a career dead end, as I initially feared in my mid-twenties. It showed me the restorative power of storytelling and the impact of vulnerability between strangers,” she states.

Following her departure from Snap, where she later led women’s programs, Drimal began organizing in-person gatherings centered around structured storytelling circles. This community ultimately evolved into the Yoni Circle app, with its initial beta version developed with the assistance of Akiva Bamberger, a former Snap engineer who now serves as an advisor to Yoni Circle.

The app currently features two primary components: the interactive Storytelling Circles and the more passive Yoni Radio.

Storytelling Circles allow members to participate in 60-minute, moderated live video sessions with up to six womxn, connecting through the act of sharing and listening to each other’s stories. Each Circle is guided by a trained “Salonniere” who begins with introductions and a breathing exercise before presenting a storytelling prompt based on a specific theme, such as “Stories on Gratitude” or “Stories on Surprise.”

These Salonnieres are compensated contractors who have completed specialized training to facilitate these types of sessions. Over time, they will also have the opportunity to host paid online events, potentially including yoga classes, book clubs, and cooking workshops.

A fundamental rule within the Circle sessions is to take the lessons from the stories with you, but to protect the privacy of the storytellers. Information shared within the Circles is to remain confidential unless the member explicitly chooses to share it publicly. Any breach of this rule will result in removal from the platform.

Members are also encouraged to express themselves simply, set aside personal ego, and demonstrate respect for differing perspectives. Storytelling prompts are not revealed in advance, preventing members from rehearsing and encouraging authentic expression. Participation is intended to be rooted in genuineness and vulnerability.

During each session, participants take turns sharing their stories and actively listening to others. Speakers are granted the “talking piece” and can respond to stories with acknowledgements, such as a “snap” icon.

While the sessions may offer support similar to group therapy, they are not primarily focused on addressing psychological concerns. Drimal describes them as a blend of “a slumber party and a mindfulness class.”

Nevertheless, she notes that members often perceive participation as a form of self-care.

“It leaves you feeling lighter,” Drimal explains. “Hearing other people’s stories, recognizing yourself in their experiences, and being reminded that you’re not alone in life’s challenges is incredibly powerful.”

Members also have the option to record their own stories and designate them as either public or private on their Yoni Circle profile. The team curates public stories to feature as highlights on the app’s homepage, providing users with on-demand listening opportunities. This content also fuels the Yoni Radio feature.

The company recently tested a weekly broadcast of recorded stories and will soon introduce a “story of the day” feature.

The Yoni Circle app launched into beta last April, coinciding with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S. This led to increased social isolation and a growing demand for new social experiences.

However, Yoni Circle distinguishes itself from the emerging live, interactive mobile market dominated by platforms like Clubhouse and Twitter Spaces.

“I believe we’ve created something unique,” says Drimal. “We prioritize intimacy by establishing a secure environment for vulnerability… the content I share on Yoni Circle would never be shared on Clubhouse,” she says. “This is also why we are being deliberate in how we expand our community. While we aim for millions of members, we need to grow responsibly.”

Currently, Yoni Circle is accessible to individuals who identify as womxn and requires an application process outlining their background and goals for joining. The long-term vision is to evolve the platform into a safe space inclusive of all.

While the pandemic initially drove interest in the app – it now has members from 1,000 cities across 80 countries – the startup anticipates a continued role in the post-pandemic landscape through in-person events designed to strengthen community connections.

Yoni Circle is currently available on iOS for free and will later introduce a subscription model, similar to Audible, providing access to Circle sessions.

The team of seven, based in Los Angeles and New York, has secured $1.3 million in pre-seed funding, led by BoxGroup, with participation from Cassius Family, Advancit, and angel investors including Rent the Runway co-founder Jenny Fleiss, Mirror founder and CEO Brynn Putnam, Beme CTO Matt Hackett, and early Snap engineer Daniel Smith.

Yoni Circle is planning to initiate a seed funding round in the coming weeks.