Daze, a startup behind a new messaging app for Gen Z, has seen tremendous success on TikTok and Instagram. Their most popular video on TikTok has garnered 8 million views, with a total of 48 million combined views across both platforms. The app, still in pre-launch, has already attracted 156,000 signups on its waitlist.
The demand for this innovative messaging app is being driven by product demo videos showcasing the app’s features, which have resonated with a younger audience.
Founded by New York-based entrepreneur Willem Simons, Daze offers a freestyle messaging app inspired by social media. Users can customize their chats with various fonts, styles, graphics, and more, creating a visually engaging messaging experience.
The app integrates AI to power creative tools and plans to incorporate more AI-based technology in the future.
Simons stated, “Our goal with Daze is to create a messenger that competes with iMessage and WhatsApp while offering fun and creative features that allow for freedom of expression.”
Daze, a pivot from its original concept as a social calendar, was built in React Native to ensure a simultaneous launch on iOS and Android. The app is set to launch on November 4, following successful early testing with invite-only beta users.
Beta tests have shown promising metrics, with a 60-day retention rate of over 50% for users who have sent a message on the app.
The app is popular among younger users, with testers primarily falling in the 13-22 age range.
The startup has raised $5.7 million in funding from various investors, including a16z, Kindred Ventures, and Maveron.
