Graze's Groundbreaking Funding Announcement

In a bold move to reshape the social media landscape, Graze, the innovative startup enabling users to create personalized feeds on Bluesky, has secured a whopping $1 million in pre-seed funding. This significant investment, led by industry heavyweights Betaworks and Salesforce Ventures, will empower Graze’s hardworking team to enhance user control over their social media experiences!

Unleashing the Power of Custom Feeds

Graze’s web-based platform is designed to simplify the complex process of building custom feeds. Unlike traditional social networks like X or Meta's Threads, which automatically serve users a generic feed, Bluesky—boasting nearly 35 million users—offers the freedom to design and pin personalized feeds. Yet, creating these feeds can be overwhelming for non-developers. That's where Graze comes into play, providing user-friendly tools and templates that revolutionize feed customization.

Already Making Waves in the Bluesky Community

Currently, Graze powers around 4,500 feeds from 3,000 users, with popular categories including news, gaming, art, sports, and more. Notably, its feeds extend beyond Bluesky, enhancing services like the news aggregation platform Sill. Graze is not just about personalization; it’s about enriching the entire social media experience!

Introducing Ethical Advertising: A Game Changer!

But wait—there's more! Graze is launching an advertising model that prioritizes ethical standards over traditional, invasive ad-tech practices. Instead of tracking user data, advertisers can select custom feeds based on topics to target their ads more effectively. This gives feed operators complete control over the ads they allow, thus fostering a more respectful relationship with their audience.

The Future of Advertising is Here!

Graze’s co-founder and CTO, Devin Gaffney, emphasizes the uniqueness of this model. Unlike major platforms where advertisers have limited controls, Graze offers advertisers the opportunity to connect directly with niche audiences while allowing users to block ads if they choose.

Exciting Growth and Potential Revenue Sharing Ahead

Currently, 200 feeds are monetizing content at approximately $1 per 1,000 impressions. With expectations of growth alongside Bluesky's expansion, Graze retains a 30% cut of advertising revenue, which supports their feed management infrastructure. Looking forward, the team is exploring revenue sharing with Bluesky and other compatible apps, indicating an exciting evolution of digital advertising.

A Focus on User Experience

Graze’s founders remain dedicated to enhancing user experiences rather than merely concentrating on profits. Co-founder and CEO Peat Bakke states, "We aren’t solely focused on revenue; we aim to build great relationships within the community and ensure a stellar user experience!" With the infusion of funds, Graze is poised for robust growth and innovation.

Meet the Visionaries Behind Graze

Situated in Portland and San Jose, Graze’s core team consists of Gaffney, Bakke, and their front-end wizard, Andrew Lisowski, bolstered by a handful of dedicated part-time staff. Together, they’re set to transform the way users interact with their social media feeds.

Stay Tuned for More Updates!

As Graze embarks on its journey toward reimagining social media interactions and ethical advertising, the tech world will undoubtedly be watching closely. Will Graze lead the charge in creating a more thoughtful and user-centric social network? Only time will tell!