Laila AI Inc.

          The mainstream adoption of smartphones and the social applications used on these devices like Instagram and YouTube have made us more connected to information, but less connected to each other. The picture is bleak for Gen Z, with 64% of college students reporting they've felt very lonely during the last year.

     With a mission to help college students have a more fulfilling and less isolated college experience, the team at Laila has created a social initiator. It's a service currently available for iPhones that delivers a prediction of your friends' willingness to hangout, tailored recommendations of things to do, and a stream of events happening around campus and the local community. Laila runs in the background and nudges you to ask your friends to do things when it makes sense. Just how Netflix and Spotify tailor their experience for video and music, Laila does the same but with the goal of enhancing your social life.

     Laila is partnering with colleges & universities in a $300+ million market to create more inclusive campus communities. Down the road, the company plans to offer brick-and-mortar businesses the ability to drive foot traffic and create a more transparent advertising channel. All together, these businesses spend roughly $34 billion per year in digital advertising.

     As a StartupNY member and currently in the LaunchNY due diligence process, the company is rolling out Laila to students at WNY schools starting this January. Laila is seeking funds to accelerate user growth and develop user traction in an expanded list of identified cities and markets.