Nature Select, the company behind AI apps EVE and Elys, has completed a Series A+ round. The round added tens of millions of US dollars, and total funding now exceeds US$100 million. New investors include 5Y Capital, Qiming Venture Partners, Source Code Capital, Matrix Partners China, and Huaye Tiancheng.
Company origins
Nature Select was founded in Shenzhen in 2024 by Zhang Xiaofan. He previously founded the game studio Ultimate Illusion. The company now has more than 100 employees, while the Elys team has just over 10.
EVE companion app
EVE is a 3D AI companion app. Users can chat and hold video calls with virtual characters. After enough interaction, characters can send real treats such as milk tea to a user's address.
Elys social app
Elys lets people create an AI version of themselves. That AI can post, browse, and interact with others on the social network. Users then decide which connections are worth continuing.
Elys reached a peak of 100,000 daily active users. The app remains invite-only. The company plans a redesign that will highlight personal agent abilities, such as recommending people and services.