A startup founded by Twitter co-founder Biz Stone and Pinterest co-founder Evan Sharp has introduced Tangle, an invite-only AI-driven app designed to help users discover and pursue meaningful life purposes rather than endless scrolling.
The platform, developed by West Co. (Workshop for Emotional and Spiritual Technology Corporation), launched in a limited test version in November 2025. It remains in early testing and is invitation-only until at least spring 2026. West Co. has raised $29 million in seed funding led by Spark Capital, following a year of self-funding by the founders.
Tangle functions as a “purpose discovery tool.” Upon joining, the AI analyzes a user’s calendar, photos, and responses to questions to generate “threads”, categories that suggest core life purposes. Users can accept, reject, or edit these suggestions. The app then prompts users to set “intentions” aligned with their threads, sends periodic reminders, and encourages sharing progress with a community of supporters for accountability and encouragement.
Threads focus heavily on altruistic and relational goals, family roles (partner, parent, sibling), community contributions (caregiver, connector, guardian), service-oriented pursuits (volunteer, advocate, healer), and spiritual exploration (seeker, believer). Work-related threads emphasize higher purpose (mentor, leader), while personal satisfaction options (traveler, connoisseur) appear less prominently.
The project stems from the founders’ reflections on social media’s societal impact. Sharp has described it as an effort to address “the terrible devastation of the human mind and heart” caused by existing platforms over the past 15 years. The AI models are trained on examples of “good intentions and helpful purposes,” according to founding designer Long Cheng.
Tangle positions itself as “social media for people who hate social media,” emphasizing intentional living, reflection, and community support over algorithmic feeds and viral content. It is currently in beta with no public launch date announced beyond the spring 2026 target for broader access.
The app has drawn attention in tech and media circles, including coverage from The Washington Post, Financial Times, and Slashdot as of January 10, 2026, with commentary noting its ambitious aim to counter social media’s negative effects through purposeful technology.
