Black-owned social media platform Spill recently announced that Emmy-winning actor Kerry Washington has invested in the site.
Washington has previously shown her support for the app. The actor has used the social media platform to host “Tea Parties,” Spill’s equivalent to live video conversations. Through the “Tea Parties,” Washington has connected with audiences to speak about vital topics such as registering to vote.
“In a digital world where marginalized groups, especially Black, Brown, and LGBTQIA folks, rarely feel prioritized, Spill stands out,” said Washington per a newly released statement. “I’m proud to be part of this community as both a user and an investor.”
Washington has previously invested in various early-stage businesses, including the now-retired women-only space The Wing, fundraising company Omaze, teeth alignment company Byte and messaging service Community.
“She’s incredibly accessible and knowledgeable, especially around these topics and is not scared in any way, shape, or form about really engaging with people directly,” said creator Alphonzo Terrell per TechCrunch. “I think it really does represent the kind of environment we want to cultivate on Spill … We’re all human here, too. Let’s connect.”
“In a digital world where marginalized groups, especially Black, Brown, and LGBTQIA folks, rarely feel prioritized, Spill stands out,” Washington said in a statement. “I’m proud to be part of this community as both a user and an investor.”
— SPILL (@SpillMob) October 2, 2024
Thanks @TechCrunch for the feature and… pic.twitter.com/NVqR9BgRZk
Created in mid-June 2023, Spill was launched as an invite-only app with 13,000 users signing up for the app upon its launch. It was the third most downloaded app with others joining a waitlist to get into the platform.
The app’s launch coincided with a desire for safety online, as hate speech was on the rise on sites like Twitter, which was rebranded as “X.” Since Elon Musk took over, a variety of changes have been made to the rules of online speech on the platform.
According to a report released in April last year, research by authors from USC, UCLA, UC Merced and Oregon State University found that daily hate speech from those who previously posted hate speech on the site doubled after the sale was made official. Overall, the amount of hate speech on the site also increased by two times.
Now in its second year, Spill has helped create a space where people are safe from hate rhetoric.The platform is home to about 200,000 users and is receiving yet more support.
The social media platform has raised $5 million in pre-seed funding to develop needed ideas for the app. The total funds amassed also include a $2 million extension round from Collide Capital.
Spill has continued to make the app even more interactive by incorporating a live, multiplayer Spades game for users.
“We’re hyperfocused on an area where there’s just not anything else really like us,” Terrell said per TechCrunch. “As long as we continue to execute and continue to steadily build all the different products, innovations, and everything that we’re talking about, we’re going to be in fantastic shape.”
