Numberless, Inc. Concludes Seed Round Led by Catamaran to Support Innovative Messaging App Port
- ByStartupStory | September 15, 2023
Numberless, Inc., the parent company of Port, has successfully closed its Seed round, marking an important milestone in its mission to revolutionize digital communication. This funding round was spearheaded by Catamaran, a prominent investor with a track record of supporting consumer companies like Reddit, Udemy, Loco, and DailyHunt. Jennifer O’Brien from Catamaran will be joining Numberless’ board to contribute her expertise. The newly acquired funds will be used to expand the company’s team and prepare for the launch of its beta version in early fall.
In a world increasingly dominated by mobile devices, phone numbers have become the default means of connecting for various purposes, from quick deliveries to business inquiries and catching up with friends. However, the value of these connections can vary significantly. Numberless aims to address this disparity by removing phone numbers from the process of connecting and communicating with others through their innovative app, Port.
Aniruddh Balasubramanian, co-founder, and CEO of Port, explained, “Due to the proliferation of mobile devices, phone numbers have become the convenient, de facto means of connecting for any purpose: a one-off delivery, a brief business query, a check-in with a friend. The value of these connections varies widely, though, so it feels incongruous that each receives the same permanent hook into our devices and lives – i.e., our phone number. Port solves this by removing phone numbers from the process of connecting and communicating with others.”
Currently in alpha testing, Port is set to introduce a public version in November 2023. The messaging app utilizes dynamic ports instead of phone numbers to connect users, offering enhanced control and privacy. These ports necessitate consent from both parties to open, ensuring that unwanted connections and spam are minimized. Additionally, either party can close the port at any time, preventing undesired follow-on communication without exposing personal phone numbers.
“Port represents a new class of communication tools that restore boundaries around who can access users on their phones and when. In fact, I foresee a future where people are more willing to form new connections via Port because of this design,” stated Deepak Padaki, President of Catamaran.
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