Ghost Angels: Snap Alumni Launch Fund To Accelerate Social Media Innovation

A cohort of 20 former Snap executives and innovators has united to introduce Ghost Angels, a new investment fund targeting the future of social media. The fund, which has already supported five companies and plans to invest in at least 15 more over the coming year, remains discreet about its total capital raised.

Strategic Formation And Diverse Expertise

Founded in 2025 by former Snap global partnerships executive and current Microsoft AI executive Max Rivera, Ghost Angels brings together approximately 20 former Snap leaders, operators and founders. Among the founding members are Alexandra Levitt, who previously led Snap’s corporate accelerator, and former Snap product and design leader Will Wu. The fund aims to leverage the operational and product expertise of its members to support early-stage founders building consumer technology companies.

Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram

Redefining Social Media Dynamics

Rivera argues that social media is entering a new phase, with platforms increasingly separating content distribution from community building. Rather than relying solely on advertising-driven business models, many emerging startups are experimenting with subscriptions, usage-based pricing, tokenized economies and other alternative monetization strategies. According to Rivera, smaller teams are also able to launch and iterate products more quickly, creating opportunities for new entrants to challenge established platforms.

Embracing AI-Driven Innovation

Ghost Angels is primarily targeting pre-seed and seed-stage AI startups focused on consumer and social applications. The fund believes artificial intelligence can reshape how users discover content, interact with communities and create digital experiences. Support from former Snap executives is particularly valuable for founders navigating challenges around engagement, product design and platform growth, Rivera said.

Future-Forward Strategies

Alongside investments in AI-powered social products, Ghost Angels is backing companies developing AI-native content formats and creative tools across industries, including music, gaming, sports and fashion. The fund sees generative AI as a way to lower barriers to content creation and distribution while enabling new forms of digital engagement. Its investment strategy reflects broader shifts across the technology sector, where entrepreneurs are increasingly building specialized communities and niche platforms rather than competing directly with large social networks.

The Future Forbes Realty Global Properties

Cyprus Expects More French Visitors In 2027 As Air Capacity Expands

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

September 18, 2026

Cyprus expects more French visitors in 2027 as airlines increase capacity between the two countries, Tourism Deputy Minister Kostas Koumis said after meetings with tour operators in Paris.

France, one of Cyprus’ key tourism markets, has had a difficult 2026. French arrivals fell 46% year over year to 8,453 in August, from 15,663 a year earlier, according to the Statistical Service of Cyprus (Cystat). August arrivals were also nearly 50% below the 16,798 recorded in the same month of 2024.

Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram

Overall, Cyprus received 2.82 million tourist arrivals between January and August, down 7% from the same period in 2025.

Air Connectivity Supports 2027 Outlook

Koumis discussed the 2027 outlook with senior executives from tour operators offering Cyprus holidays during the IFTM Top Resa travel trade fair in Paris.

Higher air capacity between France and Cyprus was a key focus of the talks. Participants also discussed the impact of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East on the French market and Cyprus’ efforts to adapt its tourism offering to French travelers.

“The French market is undoubtedly an extremely important market for our country’s tourism,” Koumis said, adding that France had regained importance only a few years ago and still had room to grow.

Improved air connectivity will be an important factor in that expansion, according to Koumis. “It is now clear that air connectivity between France and Cyprus is improving significantly, which is a basic prerequisite for the further growth of the market,” he said.

Cyprus Promotes Tourism And Regional Cooperation

Koumis attended the opening of IFTM Top Resa at the invitation of French Tourism Minister Serge Papin, who later visited the Cyprus stand. Held from Sept. 15 to 17 at Paris Porte de Versailles, the event brought together more than 32,000 tourism professionals representing 177 destinations and 1,650 brands, according to organizers.

During his visit, Koumis also met Egyptian Tourism Minister Sherif Fathy. Cyprus and Egypt reaffirmed their tourism cooperation and discussed opportunities to strengthen ties further.

French media interviews covered Cyprus’ tourism offering, infrastructure and services, along with efforts to develop specialized tourism products. Regional instability weighed on arrivals in 2026, particularly during the spring, although the decline narrowed over the summer.

Breaking news