Goodword, a new professional networking startup founded by Caroline Dell and Chris Fischer, has raised $4 million in a seed funding round led by Human Ventures, with additional participation from January Ventures, Bain’s Future Back Ventures, and angel investors including Andrew Yeung and the cofounders of Chief. The company aims to transform how professionals maintain meaningful relationships by leveraging AI to enhance, rather than replace, human connection. The startup positions itself as a "networking copilot," using AI to help users manage their professional relationships more effectively. Built on OpenAI’s large language models, Goodword’s platform integrates with users’ LinkedIn profiles, calendars, and email to provide intelligent reminders for follow-ups, search tools to find relevant contacts, and AI-powered assistance for making introductions. The goal is not to expand networks indiscriminately, but to help users focus on the right people and deepen existing relationships. Caroline Dell, former early employee at Chief, a women’s executive networking platform, teamed up with Chris Fischer, a veteran of multiple startups, in 2024. The company launched its beta version in October and is now focused on refining its product with early adopters. The $4 million funding will support product development, expand data integrations with tools like note-taking apps, cover costs for AI infrastructure, and grow its research and development team. Goodword’s pricing model includes a $200 annual subscription with a free trial. The company plans to introduce a monthly option but encourages early users to commit to a full year to allow for deeper collaboration during the product’s evolution. Unlike LinkedIn, which Fischer describes as a “content machine” and “the world’s most important professional stage,” Goodword targets a different need: helping users overcome the cognitive limits of maintaining relationships. The platform draws on anthropologist Robin Dunbar’s theory that humans can only sustain about 150 meaningful relationships, a concept the company references in its pitch deck. The deck highlights a growing paradox in the digital age: despite being more connected than ever, professionals often feel isolated and overwhelmed by their networks. Goodword frames its mission as helping people build stronger, more intentional connections in an AI-driven world. The startup emphasizes that its AI tools are designed to support, not replace, human interaction. “One of our differentiators is actually keeping the human at the center,” Dell said. Goodword is based in New York and currently has a team of five full-time employees and three contractors. The company is actively seeking early users and continues to refine its platform with direct feedback from its community.