New Delhi: A new messaging app, Daze, is creating waves ahead of its official launch, capturing the attention of Gen Z users across TikTok and Instagram with its innovative features. The app, founded by New York-based serial entrepreneur Willem Simons, has already garnered 156,000 prelaunch sign-ups and over 48 million combined views on social media, driven primarily by organic product demos that resonate with younger audiences.
What makes Daze stand out in a crowded messaging app market dominated by giants like iMessage and WhatsApp? The app introduces a freestyle approach to messaging, transforming it into a visual and creative experience akin to building an Instagram story. Users can send multi-colored messages that float across the screen, enhanced by photos, graphics, stickers, GIFs, drawings, and decorative backgrounds. This playful, unrestrained messaging style has struck a chord with Gen Z, who crave more personalized and expressive communication.
A Creative Canvas for Messaging: How Daze Redefines Conversations
Unlike traditional messaging apps that rely on simple text bubbles, Daze turns every chat into a canvas for creativity. “Our goal with Daze has been to create a feature-rich messenger that competes with iMessage and WhatsApp while also offering a suite of fun and creative tools,” explains Simons. “It’s easy to use, but also offers users a sense of freedom and expression that other messaging apps lack.”
The app’s appeal lies in its customizable user experience. Instead of the standard blue and green bubbles, Daze offers multi-colored messages that users can drag across the screen, creating dynamic and interactive chats. This freeform style takes cues from social media, encouraging users to go beyond mere text and explore creative elements like fonts, graphics, and stickers.
Additionally, Daze leverages AI technology to power some of its creative tools, with plans to integrate even more AI-driven features in future updates. This forward-thinking approach aligns with Gen Z’s affinity for tech and personalization, making the app feel fresh and cutting-edge.
From Muze to Daze: Simons’ Journey of Innovation
Daze is not Simons’ first foray into reimagining mobile messaging. Before launching Daze, he co-founded Muze, an app that also emphasized creativity in chats, with a similar set of tools for freeform messaging. However, while Muze was a joint effort with other founders, Daze is entirely Simons’ project. He describes the app as a pivot from its initial concept as a social calendar, evolving into a full-fledged messaging platform aimed at younger users.
Built entirely in React Native, Daze will launch simultaneously on both iOS and Android, ensuring widespread accessibility. Its official release is scheduled for November 4, but early testing has already begun with 1,400 invite-only beta users. Early feedback is promising: a source familiar with the app’s development revealed that 60-day retention among users who have sent messages is over 50%, a strong indicator of the app’s potential success.
Gen Z Appeal and Funding Backing the Future of Messaging
Unsurprisingly, Daze’s early adopters fall into the 13- to 22-year-old demographic, highlighting the app’s appeal among Gen Z, a generation that prioritizes self-expression and creativity in their digital interactions. Simons and his small but focused team of seven full-time employees, primarily based in New York, are working tirelessly to ensure the app’s launch meets high expectations.
The buzz around Daze hasn’t gone unnoticed by investors. Prelaunch, the startup raised $5.7 million in funding from prominent investors, including Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), Kindred Ventures, Alpaca Ventures, and Betaworks, among others. This financial backing underscores the belief in Daze’s ability to disrupt the messaging app space and attract a loyal user base.
With its official launch in November, Daze is poised to become the go-to messaging platform for the next generation, offering a blend of creativity, customization, and AI-powered tools that sets it apart from conventional messaging apps. As the waitlist continues to grow, Daze is ready to redefine how Gen Z communicates in the digital age.
