Google recently introduced a new feature with the Pixel 9 series phone that allows users to add the photographer to a group photo by swapping someone out and taking another photo. A new social network created by a pair of Oxford PhDs is developing an app that enables users to add friends to a photo in a more memeable and enjoyable way.
Vybe is a mobile app that enables users to upload a selfie and insert their face into any picture or existing template. It also allows for swapping faces with friends in a photo containing multiple people. The app’s tools automatically adjust the skin tone of the person in the template to match the user’s skin tone, ensuring a seamless look.
Users can view photos created by their friends in a feed and upload their own templates as well. Vybe has amassed over 100,000 user-generated templates, with the number growing rapidly due to the ease of creating a template. The company believes this will encourage more people to generate content on the platform.
Vybe has received $4.75 million in seed funding from investors like Stellation Capital, Scribble Ventures, Coalition Operators, Neo, and Blueprint FTC. Notable individuals such as NFL player Kelvin Beachum, early investors in Facebook and Uber, Ali Partovi, and OpenAI’s Chief Product Officer Kevin Weil also contributed to the funding round.
The co-founders of Vybe, Dr. Mandela Patrick and Dr. Arnab Ghosh, both with backgrounds in AI and tech companies like Meta and Snap, created the app with the vision of enhancing social connections through innovative photo and video tools. They aim to combine social networking, AR, and generative AI in their platform.
Vybe’s focus on user-friendly actions like placing faces in photos with a single click is a testament to their belief in creating a product with network effect value. They aim to simplify complex tasks and make social interactions more engaging.
The company is exploring various revenue streams, including brand partnerships, ads, and subscriptions, while also planning to introduce new features like video and animation support in the app. Investors like Peter Boyce II believe that Vybe’s simplicity and fun experience will drive its success and popularity.
Vybe differentiates itself from existing face-swapping apps by emphasizing ease of template creation and user involvement in remixing content to build a strong network. The company aims to establish AI-powered photos with friends as its marquee format, akin to Snapchat’s disappearing messages.
The app is available for download on iOS and Android.
