I’m honored to share that @eigenhq has raised $15M from @Benchmark to build a mutual friend that’ll help us belong and grow, together. pic.twitter.com/kfJLYTzxMV
— paul (@paulscherer) April 16, 2026
Eigen, a newly launched AI startup, has emerged from stealth with $15 million in seed funding to develop what it describes as the world’s “mutual friend,” a new category of AI designed to facilitate more meaningful human connections rather than replace them. The round was led by Benchmark, with participation from a group of prominent angel investors including Ben Silbermann, Gustav Söderström, Akshay Khotari, David Singleton, and Will Wu.
Founded by Paul Scherer, Eigen is taking a differentiated approach in the rapidly evolving AI landscape. Instead of building conversational agents or virtual companions, the company is focused on creating an AI system that acts as a “mutual friend,” helping people connect, collaborate, and navigate relationships more effectively.
Scherer’s background reflects an unconventional path into technology. Raised in rural Germany, he taught himself to code through online resources and left school at the age of 16. He later moved to Paris, where he contributed to building Augment, before relocating to San Francisco to found Eigen and pursue his vision of a new type of AI platform centered on human connection.
Eigen’s positioning signals a broader shift in AI development, where startups are exploring applications beyond productivity tools and chat interfaces, focusing instead on augmenting real-world social and professional interactions.
