The FGB Digest brings you the latest news on the world’s fastest growing direct-to-consumer and challenger brands. In today’s edition: Starling Bank launches card to buy items on another person’s behalf; Motherly raises USD$5.4m to move into commerce; and Twine launches latest service to growing video chat app arena. 

Starling Bank launches card to buy items on another person’s behalf

UK-based challenger Starling Bank has launched ‘Connected Card’, which will allow customers to entrust another person to buy essential items on their behalf.

The card has been designed for those customers who are self-isolating because of the coronavirus and are having to rely on friends and family for support, so it removes the need for IOUs, cheques, bank transfers or handling cash.

Protected by a PIN and with a balance limit of EUR 220, the Connected Card can only be used in shops and not online, giving the account holder control over their money when they’re unable to visit the shops themselves.

Account holders can apply for a Connected card within the Starling app and should receive the new card in three to five working days.

Starling also recently announced the introduction of mobile cheque scanning for all customers and the Coronavirus Support Scheme which gives Starling customers who are struggling due to loss of income caused by the pandemic a three-month interest holiday on their overdraft. 

Motherly raises USD$5.4m to move into commerce

Mom-focused content startup Motherly has raised USD$5.4m as it expands into commerce. 

Motherly started out by publishing motherhood-themed content on its website and on social media (and more recently in podcast form), which in turn encouraged the audience of 30 million unique users to start “engaging with us and with each other.”

Now that there’s a big audience and a real community, the company is getting ready to launch the Motherly Store, a launch which the funding will support. Motherly has reversed the strategy of direct-to-consumer startups that sell products, then add content and community to support those commerce goals.

The Series A funding was led by 8VC, with participation from Founders Fund, Muse Capital, AET and AmplifyHer Ventures.

CEO Jill Koziol suggested that brands selling through the site will benefit from access to Motherly’s audience (particularly as advertising costs have grown to unsustainable heights for many DTC brands), while moms will benefit from having a “credible” source that can help “narrow down those choices.”

Twine launches latest service to growing video chat app arena

A new start up called twine is launching to provide people with a video chat app for deep conversations amid lockdown. The launch comes at a time when users are discovering (or re-discovering) chat platforms such as Zoom, Houseparty and Facebook’s video chat tool. 

Described simply as a “Zoom for meeting new people,” twine is a group video chat experience where people are encouraged to have meaningful discussions that spark new friendships.

In twine, users are matched with four other partners who they’ll then have 1-to-1 conversations with for eight minutes apiece. The full gathering lasts for a total of 40 minutes, including the virtual guide portion where the ground rules are set.

Participants choose from a library of more than 250 “deep” questions, then get matched with partners who want to explore the same topics. They then RSVP for twine’s digital gatherings in their time zone and check in when it’s time to start.

The overall experience is meant to help people find connections by skipping the small talk and going straight to what matters. But the focus is on friendships, not dating. Afterward, users are encouraged to set reminders to get back in touch and meet again in future gatherings.