Friend-focused photo-sharing app Retro snags $21M

专注好友分享的图片应用 Retro 获得 2100 万美元融资

Retro, the friend-focused photo-sharing app built by former Instagram product engineers Nathan Sharp and Ryan Olson, has raised north of $21 million in Series A funding, according to an SEC filing. 根据美国证券交易委员会（SEC）的一份文件显示，由前 Instagram 产品工程师 Nathan Sharp 和 Ryan Olson 开发的专注好友分享的图片应用 Retro，已完成超过 2100 万美元的 A 轮融资。

The fundraise is a testament to the enduring need for social apps that connect people with one another more directly, instead of through personalized algorithms filled with creator content and now, often, AI slop. 此次融资证明了人们对社交应用有着持久的需求，即希望人与人之间能更直接地建立联系，而不是通过充斥着创作者内容、甚至如今往往是 AI 生成垃圾内容的个性化算法来连接。

“Something that has to be true and will be true is that people will still want to see more of their friends,” Sharp told TechCrunch in December, referring to how For You-style feeds have taken over today’s social media. “The photos and videos you take will need to find a place where they can reach the intended audience,” he said. “有一点是必然的，那就是人们依然希望看到更多朋友的动态，”Sharp 在去年 12 月接受 TechCrunch 采访时表示，他指的是“为你推荐”（For You）风格的信息流如何主导了当今的社交媒体。“你拍摄的照片和视频需要找到一个能够触达目标受众的地方，”他说。

Business Insider first spotted the SEC filing, which is under the startup’s name, Lone Palm Labs. The filing, dated August 19, indicates the funding itself was closed in December. PitchBook now estimates the startup is valued at over $100 million. Retro didn’t respond to a request for comment. Business Insider 最先发现了这份以该初创公司名称“Lone Palm Labs”提交的 SEC 文件。文件日期为 8 月 19 日，显示该笔融资实际上在去年 12 月就已经完成。PitchBook 目前估计该初创公司的估值已超过 1 亿美元。Retro 未回应置评请求。

Launched in 2023 as more of a personal photo journal, Retro has since expanded its feature set to let users privately share photos of their week with friends; create shared albums; view and share recaps; or “rewind” to time-travel back through photo memories. Retro 于 2023 年推出时更像是一个个人照片日记，此后其功能不断扩展，允许用户与好友私密分享每周照片、创建共享相册、查看和分享回顾，或者通过“倒带”（rewind）功能穿越回过去的照片记忆中。

The app has another advantage that appeals to consumers: It doesn’t monetize via advertising. Instead, the company offers in-app subscriptions that offer features like support for video, GIF and sticker comments, more styles, unlimited history, and special app icons. 该应用还有一个吸引消费者的优势：它不通过广告变现。相反，该公司提供应用内订阅服务，解锁诸如支持视频、GIF 和贴纸评论、更多样式、无限历史记录以及特殊应用图标等功能。

According to data from app intelligence provider Appfigures, Retro has been downloaded around 7 million times since its launch and has seen its in-app spending jump north of 460% over the past 180 days. While it’s still a small subset of app users who subscribe, the expectation is that those who make that jump are committed customers who have turned Retro into a frequently used photo-sharing app. 根据应用情报提供商 Appfigures 的数据，Retro 自推出以来下载量已达约 700 万次，且过去 180 天内应用内消费额增长了超过 460%。虽然订阅用户仍只占应用用户的一小部分，但可以预期的是，这些付费用户是忠实客户，他们已将 Retro 变成了一款高频使用的图片分享应用。

Retro’s backers include Thrive Capital, Figma CEO Dylan Field, Scribble Ventures, Box Group, Imaginary Ventures, Coalition, Conviction, Copper, Positive Sum, and various angels. Retro 的投资方包括 Thrive Capital、Figma 首席执行官 Dylan Field、Scribble Ventures、Box Group、Imaginary Ventures、Coalition、Conviction、Copper、Positive Sum 以及多位天使投资人。