A social media app that feels like the old Instagram days raised $21 million
In 2023, ex-Instagram employees launched a new app called Retro. It's one of many new social media apps taking on Big Tech platforms.
Retro, a social media app reminiscent of old Instagram days, has successfully raised $21 million in venture capital funding. Designed by ex-Instagram employees, this app caters to sharing content with close friends and family. Lone Palm Labs, the startup behind Retro, boasts a team of seven employees spread between New York and San Francisco.
The company, which launched another app named Splat in 2025, has secured funding from notable investors such as Thrive Capital, Scribble Ventures, Imaginary Ventures, and Uncommon Projects, along with angel investors like Figma CEO Dylan Field.
Launched in 2023, Retro offers a platform for users to document their daily lives through photos and memes. It has evolved to include shared photo albums and a nostalgic feed of throwbacks. Unlike mainstream platforms, Retro maintains a smaller social graph of around 20 friends, providing a more intimate experience. With approximately 1.7 million global monthly active users and 7.8 million global downloads, the app has gained traction in countries like Japan, Taiwan, Germany, and Spain.
Operating on a freemium model, Retro allows users to access the app for free, but offers a premium subscription for $36 per year. This subscription unlocks features such as video posting and unrestricted viewing of friends' content without posting one's own. As larger social media platforms shift towards entertainment-centric models, apps like Retro are capitalizing on the demand for genuine connections.
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