News Summary

Rent a Cyber Friend, a startup co-founded by Francesco Vitali and Chris Siametis, has gained significant traction with 3 million registered users without raising venture capital or spending on marketing. The platform allows users to pay per minute for conversations with “cyber friends,” who are vetted for identity verification and can set their rates. The startup is part of Startup Battlefield and will present at TechCrunch Disrupt in San Francisco. The platform addresses loneliness by offering human connections and values human time. Safety and moderation are challenges, and the company plans to improve its vetting system. Vitali’s perspective on the product shifted after a conversation with a frequent user who valued the platform for cultural exchange and safe interaction.