First Voyage Raises $2.5M for AI Habit Companion

First Voyage Secures Seed Funding for AI-Powered Habit Builder

As the digital landscape becomes increasingly saturated with AI-generated content, First Voyage is emerging as a startup dedicated to assisting individuals in navigating this influx. Their focus is on fostering positive habit formation, rather than being overwhelmed by low-quality AI outputs.

The company’s approach centers around an AI companion application known as Momo Self Care. This app features a virtual pet, Momo, which users nurture. In exchange, Momo provides reminders to support the completion of habit-building activities.

How Momo Self Care Works

Users define the tasks they wish to accomplish, and Momo proactively reminds them. Similar to the popular Focus Friend application, Momo rewards users with virtual coins upon task completion.

These coins can then be utilized to acquire items within the app, allowing for further customization of the digital pet. Furthermore, users can engage in conversations with Momo regarding self-care, receiving personalized recommendations for habits and tasks aligned with their goals.

“Momo empowers users to achieve their optimal selves, and in turn, users demonstrate care and affection towards Momo, often through the acquisition of charming accessories,” explained Besart Çopa, co-founder and CEO, in a statement to TechCrunch.

He founded the company alongside Egehan Ozsoy, who serves as the Chief Technology Officer.

Seed Funding and Platform Traction

First Voyage announced on Monday that it had successfully raised $2.5 million in a seed funding round. Investors included a16z speedrun, SignalFire, True Global, and several others.

Çopa revealed that Momo users have already established over 2 million tasks on the platform. The most frequently pursued habits fall into the categories of productivity enhancement, spiritual growth, and mindfulness practices.

Addressing Concerns About AI Companions

The proliferation of AI applications and virtual companions raises concerns about potential negative impacts, particularly given the growing influence of AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude, and Grok.

Çopa anticipates a continued increase in the prevalence of relationships between AI characters and humans in the coming years. He also expressed a preference for AI applications focused on wellness and self-improvement over those catering to more basic desires.

“We are encouraged to see numerous founders and startups dedicating their efforts to the AI self-care and wellness sector, rather than developing virtual romantic partners,” he stated. He further added that the “AI’s capacity for personalization will significantly amplify the impact of these interactions.”

Safety Measures and Future Development

Momo incorporates safety features, including prompt filters, to ensure that conversations between the AI and users remain appropriate and within defined boundaries.

The newly acquired funding will facilitate the launch of Momo on the Android app store, as it is currently available on iOS. The First Voyage team also intends to enhance Momo’s intelligence and improve its interactive capabilities.

“Our vision is for Momo and its surrounding community to become a leading consumer brand, leveraging the strengths of AI, animation, and gamification to positively impact as many lives as possible,” Çopa concluded.