Communia Wagers on the Potential Benefits of Social Media for Users

Olivia DeRamus is challenging the norm: Imagine if browsing social media actually uplifted us instead of bringing us down. What if, particularly for women, it could be a source of empowerment and support?

“That’s not something traditional social networks were designed to do,” DeRamus shared with TechCrunch. However, with her innovative social platform Communia, DeRamus is exploring a concept that diverges from the norm.

Communia serves dual roles as a social networking site and a mental well-being resource. It provides a space for users to share updates within a communal feed or to privately keep a journal and monitor their emotional journey. However, for true openness, the environment must be trustworthy. Hence, the service mandates users to confirm their identities before they can gain full access, which may be contentious for some yet comforting for others.

“This verification acts as a protective measure and broadcasts that this is a safe and personal environment,” she explained. “As a result, individuals feel more at liberty to discuss sensitive topics like PMDD or navigate through tough personal experiences.”

Previously engaged in nonprofit work aimed at combating violence against women, DeRamus took a pivot towards technology, driven by the realization of how critical supportive virtual spaces can be. After experiencing sexual assault in college, she found solace and understanding in online communities, a time when discussing such topics was even more challenging.

“I turned to social media as a means to comprehend my own experiences,” she recounted. “This was before the MeToo movement… How and where were women discussing sexual assault?”

Through Communia, DeRamus is fashioning the kind of app she wished was available during her own time of need. “While we don’t claim to have all the solutions at Communia, we’ve found that despite our limited resources and funding, sometimes the answers to the web’s biggest problems are simpler than big tech makes them out to be,” she stated.

Stepping away from typical tech founder archetypes, DeRamus adopts an unconventional approach. “I recognize that in the tech sector, it’s common to advance far without a solid plan for revenue – look at BeReal’s recent acquisition without having solved that puzzle,” she mentioned. “But for Communia, our aim is not just to build a digitally better sphere for women but to also develop a sustainable tech business model.”

Communia aims to generate revenue by forming partnerships with creators, proposing the idea that fans could financially support to gain access to closer-knit communities surrounding creators they admire. This approach focuses more on the bonding within the entire group rather than the individual connections with the creator.

To refine its strategy around creators, Communia enlisted the expertise of former OnlyFans CEO Amrapali Gan as a strategic consultant and adviser on growth.

“Our relationship began about a year ago when I reached out to her directly, without any introduction, through her DMs, and she replied. Over time, as she began to guide us on various aspects, it became evident that she was truly passionate about our vision, which led to her joining in a more official capacity, offering more than what a typical adviser might,” DeRamus shared.

Gan, having served as OnlyFans’ CMO and then CEO during a period of rapid growth and with a strong emphasis on safety measures, brings a wealth of knowledge to Communia. After leaving OnlyFans, she founded Hoxton, a creative agency aimed at assisting startups.

“Her expertise is invaluable, not only enabling us to accelerate growth and make informed decisions but also to navigate the complex challenges any social media platform faces,” DeRamus noted.

As an emerging platform, Communia treads carefully in its expansion, having made a debut at TechCrunch’s Startup Battlefield 200 in 2023 without an aggressive marketing strategy. Gan’s involvement could potentially propel its growth. The measured approach to expansion seeks to ensure the safety and content moderation required to scale effectively. Currently, Communia is embarking on its initial round of institutional fundraising, hoping to secure resources that will facilitate its safe and steady growth.