Tolan

Tolan is an AI-powered mobile application that functions as a virtual companionship platform, featuring animated alien characters from the fictional Planet Portola. Developed by Portola, a San Francisco-based startup, the app launched in February 2025 for iOS devices. Portola, the parent company, was co-founded in 2024 by CEO Quinten Farmer, CTO Evan Goldschmidt, and President Ajay Mehta. Farmer was previously the co-founder of the fintech firm Even, which was acquired by Walmart in 2022. Goldschmidt is a former senior software engineer at Google, and Mehta is a serial entrepreneur who founded companies like Birthdate Co. and Therapy Notebooks. The Tolan app provides users with a personalized AI companion after an initial personality assessment, enabling open-ended, voice-native conversations on topics ranging from daily advice to emotional support. The platform's objective is to enhance users' feelings of agency, self-confidence, and relational stability by providing a non-judgmental and adaptive friend. Its core features include 3D animations and adaptive learning, where the AI companion evolves based on user interactions. The service is designed to address feelings of overwhelm rather than loneliness, with a focus on helping users feel more grounded and connected to the people in their real lives. The company operates on a direct-to-consumer, subscription-based business model. Users can choose from weekly, monthly, or annual subscription plans to access the service. Since its launch, Tolan has surpassed 3 million downloads and 100,000 paid subscribers, generating over $1 million in monthly revenue. The company secured a $10 million seed round in February 2025 and a $20 million Series A round in July 2025, led by Khosla Ventures. Notable investors include Nat Friedman (former GitHub CEO) and Mike Krieger (Instagram co-founder). Keywords: AI companion, virtual friend, emotional support, mental wellness, conversational AI, adaptive learning, mobile application, subscription model, Portola, Quinten Farmer, Evan Goldschmidt, Ajay Mehta, voice-native interaction, 3D animation, personal growth, creative collaboration, daily companionship, alien character, chatbot, mental health.