San Francisco, October 16, 2025 — The startup scene at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 is set to welcome an intriguing new player: Rent a Cyber Friend, a novel video chat platform that pays users to engage in casual conversations with strangers online. Founded by Francesco Vitali and Chris Siametis, Rent a Cyber Friend aims to tap into the growing demand for human connection in a digital age increasingly dominated by AI interactions[1][9].
The concept initially raised eyebrows even among the founder...
The concept initially raised eyebrows even among the founders themselves. Vitali, a Gen X film producer with two decades of collaboration experience with Siametis, candidly admitted initial skepticism about the idea of paying people to talk to strangers. However, as the startup swiftly grew to over 3 million registered users without any venture capital funding or marketing budget, Vitali recognized a significant market opportunity[1][7].
Rent a Cyber Friend operates on a pay-per-minute video chat...
Rent a Cyber Friend operates on a pay-per-minute video chat model, offering users access to “cyber friends” for real-time conversation. This approach contrasts with the rising trend of AI chatbots, providing authentic human interaction for those seeking social engagement or companionship online. The platform’s rapid organic growth underscores a strong demand for such services amid the evolving digital social landscape[1].
The startup will officially debut its platform at TechCrunch...
The startup will officially debut its platform at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, running from October 27 to 29 at San Francisco’s Moscone West. Disrupt is renowned as a premier event for startups, investors, and tech leaders, featuring a blend of product launches, expert panels, and networking opportunities designed to accelerate growth and innovation across industries[2][4][5].
At Disrupt 2025, Rent a Cyber Friend will participate in the...
At Disrupt 2025, Rent a Cyber Friend will participate in the highly competitive Startup Battlefield, showcasing its innovative social platform on one of the event’s main stages. This selective competition spotlights promising startups poised for major milestones, offering exposure to influential investors and media[1][7].
TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 promises a packed agenda, with sessi...
TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 promises a packed agenda, with sessions led by industry luminaries such as Discord founder Jason Citron and investor Elad Gil, who will share insights into community-building and AI investing. The event is expected to draw over 10,000 startup and venture capital leaders, creating a vibrant ecosystem for emerging technologies and entrepreneurial ventures[3][5].
Rent a Cyber Friend’s emergence highlights a unique niche wi...
Rent a Cyber Friend’s emergence highlights a unique niche within the social tech sphere, where human connection is monetized in a novel way. As digital communication continues to evolve, this startup’s model may signal new directions for online interaction that blend social needs with innovative business strategies.
For attendees and observers, Rent a Cyber Friend’s debut at...
For attendees and observers, Rent a Cyber Friend’s debut at Disrupt 2025 will be an opportunity to witness firsthand how startups are redefining social engagement in the tech era. The event will offer ample chances to explore this and dozens of other cutting-edge ventures shaping the future of technology and human connection[1][2].
🔄 Updated: 10/16/2025, 6:11:00 PM
Breaking news from TechCrunch Disrupt 2025: Rent a Cyber Friend, a platform boasting 2.6 million users, is set to debut its innovative social platform at the San Francisco event. The company, founded by Francesco Vitali and Chris Siametis, will showcase how it pays individuals to engage with strangers online, offering a unique take on social interaction. This development highlights the growing trend of "human as a service" models, where Rent a Cyber Friend is positioning itself as a significant player in the digital social landscape[7][9][11].
🔄 Updated: 10/16/2025, 6:21:19 PM
Cyber Friend, a startup boasting over 2.6 million users, is set to debut its innovative social platform at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, where CEO Francesco Vitali will present its unique approach to paid social engagement[9][11]. Industry experts highlight the startup’s capacity to tap into the emerging "human as a service" market, noting the potential to redefine online social interactions through incentivized communication, with analysts emphasizing its strong user base as a key indicator of scalability and market fit[11].
🔄 Updated: 10/16/2025, 6:31:16 PM
At TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, experts have lauded Rent a Cyber Friend for its unexpected rapid growth, having amassed 3 million registered users without venture capital or marketing spend. Francesco Vitali, co-founder, emphasized the platform's success reflects a "big market for human connection" amidst rising AI bot interactions, with analysts noting this human-as-a-service model as a novel pivot in social tech innovation[1]. Industry insiders see this as a strong validation of monetizing casual online conversations, forecasting significant potential for scaling personalized digital companionship.
🔄 Updated: 10/16/2025, 6:41:17 PM
Cyber Friend Startup "Rent a Cyber Friend," boasting 3 million registered users, will debut its pay-per-minute video chat platform at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, drawing expert attention for tapping into the growing market for human connection alongside AI bots. CEO Francesco Vitali noted initial skepticism but now recognizes the strong demand, highlighting the startup’s growth without venture capital or marketing spend as a mark of its organic traction. Industry analysts view this model as a novel approach to monetizing social interaction in a digitally isolated era[5][7][9].
🔄 Updated: 10/16/2025, 6:51:20 PM
The debut of Rent a Cyber Friend at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 has sparked significant consumer interest, boasting 3 million registered users without any marketing spend or venture capital backing. Users are intrigued by the platform’s concept of paying for casual video conversations with strangers, highlighting a growing market for human connection beyond AI interactions. Co-founder Francesco Vitali noted initial skepticism was overcome by rapid user growth, emphasizing the platform’s appeal in a digital age craving real social interaction[5][9].
🔄 Updated: 10/16/2025, 7:01:32 PM
**Live News Update — TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 | Moscone West, San Francisco | October 16, 2025**
Rent A Cyber Friend, the human connection platform co-founded by Francesco Vitali and Chris Siametis, is making its debut in the Startup Battlefield competition at Disrupt 2025 with a notable edge: it has scaled to over 3 million registered users without any venture funding or paid marketing—a rarity in today’s AI-dominated social tech scene[5]. “Who's going to pay somebody to speak with somebody?” Vitali initially doubted, but the platform’s viral, capital-efficient growth now challenges both traditional social networks and AI companion startups, proving demand for authentic, paid human
🔄 Updated: 10/16/2025, 7:11:26 PM
At TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, **Rent a Cyber Friend**, a startup that has rapidly grown to 3 million users without external funding or marketing, attracted expert attention for tapping into the burgeoning market of paid human connection amid AI chatbot prevalence. Francesco Vitali, co-founder, highlighted initial skepticism turning into validation as the platform offers paid video chats with strangers, meeting a clear demand for authentic social interaction[1]. Industry analysts noted this approach contrasts with AI reliance, potentially redefining digital companionship monetization and community-building strategies in tech startups[1].
🔄 Updated: 10/16/2025, 7:21:31 PM
Rent a Cyber Friend, a video chat platform paying users to talk to strangers online, has rapidly grown to 3 million registered users without venture capital and will debut at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 in San Francisco this October 27-29[5]. Co-founder Francesco Vitali acknowledged initial skepticism but highlighted the strong market for human connection amid AI bot conversations, signaling a new wave in social tech startups[5]. The company will present as part of the Startup Battlefield, showcasing alongside other emerging ventures at this premier event gathering 10,000 startup and VC leaders[1][5].
🔄 Updated: 10/16/2025, 7:31:39 PM
San Francisco, October 16, 2025 — Rent A Cyber Friend, the video chat platform founded by Francesco Vitali and Chris Siametis, will debut in this year’s Startup Battlefield at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, running October 27–29 at Moscone West[5][9]. The company has quietly amassed 3 million registered users without venture capital or marketing spend, demonstrating strong organic demand for paid, casual human connections online—a notable counter-trend in an era where AI chatbots dominate the conversational tech landscape[5]. “I didn’t quite get the idea at first,” Vitali told TechCrunch, “but as I used the product, I realized there’s a big
🔄 Updated: 10/16/2025, 7:41:35 PM
In a striking display of innovation at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, Rent a Cyber Friend has garnered significant attention with its unique platform that pays users to engage in casual conversations. The startup, founded by Francesco Vitali and Chris Siametis, boasts an impressive 3 million registered users and has been part of the highly competitive Startup Battlefield. As Vitali noted, "There's a big market for human connection — especially in a time when people are paying to talk to AI bots," highlighting the platform's rapid growth without any venture capital or marketing efforts[3][5].
🔄 Updated: 10/16/2025, 7:51:37 PM
The debut of Rent a Cyber Friend at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 marks a significant shift in the competitive landscape of online social platforms by introducing a paid, human-driven conversation model that has already attracted 3 million registered users without venture capital or marketing spend[5]. This disrupts traditional social or AI chat services by monetizing genuine human connection, highlighting evolving consumer demand amid a crowded ecosystem largely dominated by AI bots and free social networks. Francesco Vitali, co-founder, noted how skeptics initially doubted the concept but later saw strong market validation, underscoring a new competitive frontier focused on paid, human-to-human interaction in digital spaces[5].
🔄 Updated: 10/16/2025, 8:01:36 PM
Rent a Cyber Friend, a startup with over 3 million registered users worldwide, is debuting at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 in San Francisco, offering a paid video chat platform that fosters human connection across borders. The international response has been strong, highlighting a growing global market for virtual companionship, especially when traditional social interactions are limited; co-founder Francesco Vitali noted, "there's a big market for human connection—people are even paying to talk to AI bots" as a comparison[5][7]. This launch marks a significant step in the global digital social economy, attracting attention from technology leaders and investors attending the event.
🔄 Updated: 10/16/2025, 8:11:43 PM
At TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, the launch of the "Cyber Friend" startup comes amid increased federal efforts to strengthen cybersecurity and AI regulation, with the Commerce Department directing the NIST to update secure software development guidelines by December 1, 2025, a timeline that directly impacts startups deploying AI-driven platforms[3]. Additionally, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) released a strategic AI Roadmap emphasizing responsible AI use to protect critical infrastructure, signaling heightened government oversight over emerging AI technologies showcased at the event[15]. This regulatory climate reflects a proactive government stance aiming to balance innovation with national security and consumer protection.
🔄 Updated: 10/16/2025, 8:21:49 PM
In the wake of the Cyber Friend startup's debut at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, regulatory bodies are closely monitoring the platform's safety and content moderation efforts. As Vitali, the founder, noted, maintaining a healthy online environment is crucial, especially with the platform's rapid growth. While there are no specific government responses yet, broader regulatory efforts in the tech sector, such as the ongoing updates to NIST guidelines, highlight the importance of robust security measures for such platforms[1][3].
🔄 Updated: 10/16/2025, 8:32:05 PM
## Cyber Friend Startup Debuts at Disrupt 2025
Rent a Cyber Friend, a video chat platform where users pay per minute to talk with a “cyber friend,” launched at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 in San Francisco, reporting 3 million registered users despite zero marketing spend and no social media presence—a figure that surprised even co-founder Francesco Vitali, who initially doubted the concept’s appeal[1]. “As I used the product myself, I began to realize that there’s a big market for human connection—especially in a time when people are paying to talk to AI bots,” Vitali told TechCrunch, reflecting shifting consumer priorities toward authentic, paid human interaction online[1]. The platform