Glimpse
AcquiredRaised Since FeaturedMaking video chat social
Social video chat platform that deeply engages groups through timed 1-on-1 video conversations with AI-powered matching.
About
Glimpse was a social video chat platform founded in 2019 by Duke University dropouts Helena Merk and Brian Li to combat the loneliness epidemic. The platform enabled groups of 4 to 400,000 people to connect through timed one-on-one video conversations, using AI-powered matching to pair participants based on shared interests. Glimpse featured icebreaker prompts, mini-games, and round-robin matching to make virtual interactions feel organic and engaging. The company participated in Y Combinator's Winter 2020 batch and raised seed funding from YC and Maven Ventures. As the pandemic accelerated demand for virtual connection tools, Glimpse gained traction with universities, corporate teams, and event organizers. In early 2022, the company was acquired by Twine, a remote work and events platform, to integrate Glimpse's breakout room technology into Zoom's ecosystem.
DailyDropout Take
Glimpse stood out as two Duke dropouts tackling the loneliness epidemic with a deceptively simple idea — timed 1-on-1 video chats that made large virtual gatherings feel intimate. Their Y Combinator backing and organic traction with universities proved the concept, and the Twine acquisition validated that social video matching was a feature worth acquiring.
Discovery signal: Young founders dropping out of Duke with strong mission-driven narrative, YC W20 backing, and early traction during the pandemic-driven virtual events boom.
What Makes Them Unique
Glimpse pioneered timed 1-on-1 video matching at scale, turning large virtual gatherings into intimate connections through AI-powered pairing and gamified icebreakers — making video chat feel social rather than transactional.
5
Team Size
W20
YC Batch
Twine (Feb 2022)
Acquisition
Target Markets
Founders
Helena Merk
Co-Founder & CEO
Dropped out of Duke University in 2019 to co-found Glimpse with a mission to fight the loneliness epidemic through technology.
Brian Li
Co-Founder & CTO
Dropped out of Duke University in 2019 to co-found Glimpse. Led engineering and product development for the social video chat platform.
Funding History
Lead: Y Combinator