Portola, based in San Francisco, introduced Tolan as an iOS app in February. The alien creatures from Planet Portola are designed to provide companionship and engage in conversations with users on a wide range of topics, adapting and growing based on interactions with the human user.
The company is spearheaded by Quinten Farmer, the Seattle-based co-founder and CEO, who previously co-founded and led the fintech startup Even, acquired by Walmart for $300 million in 2022. Portola’s leadership team also includes CTO Evan Goldschmidt and President Ajay Mehta.
Since its launch, Tolan has garnered over 3 million downloads, with more than 100,000 paid users generating over $1 million in monthly revenue. Farmer emphasizes the importance of impacting users beyond their digital interactions with AI, focusing on enhancing users’ feelings of agency, self-confidence, and real-world relationships.
With a Series A funding round led by Khosla Ventures and Keith Rabois, Portola continues to expand its offerings. The startup previously raised a $10 million seed round, attracting notable investors from the tech industry.
Tolan operates on a subscription model, offering users various payment options for access to the AI companions. Farmer announced plans to release a free version of the product to broaden its reach and capitalize on its viral potential.
Currently, Portola employs 12 individuals and is actively recruiting key engineering talents to support its growth and development efforts.
