When Swsh launched last year, the social app was initially designed as a voting game (similar to the Most Likely To game) where users could answer five questions each day with their friends.
However, the company has completely switched gears and entered a very crowded market: photo album sharing platforms. These types of apps have been around for about a decade, and there are newer competitors like Dispo, Lapse, and Sunshine. But Swsh believes it can stand out by offering Gen Z-focused features.
The first distinctive feature is the ability to filter alcoholic beverages and solo cups, a useful tool for younger users (especially high school and college students) who want to maintain a clean image on their social media accounts. Another feature is the ability to hide certain photos. For example, if someone at a party looks visibly drunk or has their eyes closed, you can request that their photo be hidden.
Additionally, the app's AI facial recognition tools allow users to search for their photos among a large number of images. Users must opt in to this feature, and hosts can also restrict access so that users can only see their own photos.
The app recently introduced an auto-tagging feature to make searching easier. So if a user can't remember the name of someone who was at an event and wants to reconnect, they can simply look up their tagged names to find that person. Users have individual profiles and can also create collaborative groups with all their friends.
Image credit: Swsh
Swsh's focus on targeting Gen Z, who grew up sharing their lives online, is a strategic decision. The app is also intended to be tailored to college fraternities and sororities, helping presidents manage numerous events and large numbers of photos taken during them.
In fact, the brains behind Swsh are Gen Z themselves: Alexandra Debow (CEO), Nathan Ahn (CTO), and Weilyn Chong (COO), so they understand their target audience very well.
“After parties, people always ask me, 'Can you send me a picture? And who was that cute guy?'” Debow told TechCrunch. “Social engagement is always followed by a transaction…‘Send me a photo.’” That kind of interaction happens. It's a question of social contract. ”
“I realized that there is something so strong.” [need] “To create the most shared photo album,” she added.
Next, Swsh plans to launch customized albums that allow users to add different themes for special celebrations, holidays, and concerts. Recaps, a collection of photos for users to remember past events, will also appear at the top of the page. These features will be rolled out later this fall.
Image credit: Swsh
Swsh relaunched its app in February, but it still has a long way to go to reach the same level of popularity as its competitors. Sensor Tower estimates that the app has only around 3,093 installs. Swsh says its user count is growing 47% month over month.
Despite the slow growth, a group of prominent investors are backing the app, demonstrating their belief that Swsh has a promising future and can perform well among young users.
The latest round brings in $700,000 in new capital led by BoxGroup with participation from Alexandra Burbey (Sound Ventures investor), Amy Moussavi (former Apple employee), David Rosenberg, and Krish Jayaram (former Snap director of product). Fresh capital has been provided to the company. ), Sergei Sorokin (former VP of Product at Discord), and others.
The company has raised $2.4 million to date.