Diem, a startup, is addressing the issue of “search engine gender bias,” where search results often default to male-centric information, leaving many women and nonbinary individuals dissatisfied with the responses to their personal or sensitive queries. The company has created a social search engine that offers a platform for women and nonbinary people to exchange stories and seek advice on topics such as sexual health, relationships, mental health, and body positivity.
The Diem app, available on the web, iOS, and Android, functions like a global group chat, encouraging users to discuss intimate topics they might typically reserve for close friends. It includes features like discussing exiting toxic relationships, managing menstrual symptoms, or coping with body image issues, with an option for anonymous questioning.
Incorporating AI, Diem extracts answers from credible online sources, combining them with user-generated content and summarizing through a “feminine lens.”
Diem recently introduced several features, including a referral tool called “Nominate Your Friends,” micro-communities called “Spaces” (akin to subreddits), and a “Daily Briefing” of personalized daily posts. The app has also partnered with verified content providers specializing in reproductive health, such as Aavia, Hey Jane, Evvy, and Stix, allowing the AI to access articles directly from these sites to answer questions. More partnerships are expected, covering areas like finance and relationships.
The “Nominate Your Friends” tool enables users to involve friends in discussions, simultaneously growing Diem’s user base, as friends need to sign up to respond. Currently, Diem boasts over 40,000 users.
“Spaces” is a beta feature aimed at facilitating comfortable sharing of important topics within the community. Inspired by popular posts, initial spaces include “Is This Normal,” “No Judgment Pls,” and others, with plans for influencers to manage some spaces. Additionally, “Recommended Reading” and an event feature for community meetups are set to launch soon.
Founders Emma Bates (CEO) and Divia Singh (COO) established Diem following Bates’ experience with the morning-after pill, which led to an overwhelming online search for personal stories. They aimed to create a platform that encapsulates the real-world information sharing that occurs in intimate settings.
Previously working at DTC travel brand Away, Bates and Singh have raised $3.7 million for Diem, with Stellation Capital leading the seed round. Investors include Acrew Capital, Flybridge, Techstars, XFactor Ventures, and notable angels such as Lindsay Kaplan, Steph Korey, Jaclyn Johnson, Amber Atherton, and Abadesi Osunsade.
In the future, Diem plans a monetization feature to compensate users for their content contributions.