Arya raise 8.5M, Kinsey Fellowships and Awards, Industry Jobs and News
Bryony Cole
Global Speaker | Sextech and Frontiers | Industry Newsletter every Thursday | Run the only Accelerator for Sextech
👋 HEY ALL!
Exciting week as we prep the podcast for release, a stack of things happening in the news, who said the holidays were going to be quiet?!
If you're already looking to opportunities for next year, don't forget to check out the Kinsey Institute's latest Awards and Fellowships here. Two scholarship tracks will fund a short-term study/research period within the Kinsey Institute Library and Special Collection
We are zooming along here...!
Read on for:
🔥 this week in sextech
💼 job openings
💰 investments
💡 founder of the week
— Bryony
🔥 THIS WEEK IN SEXTECH
🤖 The Rise of Allodolls: Understanding the Growing Popularity of Adult Dolls
Why adult dolls are being used for companionship more than physical pleasure 👇
💼 Apple Faces Lawsuit: Accusations Over Child Sexual Abuse Material in Technology
Victims of abuse are seeking more than $1.2 billion in damages, arguing that the company abandoned a 2021 system it developed to find abusive material.
⚠️ Disrupting Online Abuse: The Role of Pop-Up Warnings and Chatbots in Combating Child Exploitation
What digital secondary prevention interventions have been implemented to prevent online child sexual abuse?
🔗 Exploring Puppy Play: A Deep Dive into the BDSM Subculture
In “Psychology of Puppy Play: A Phenomenological Investigation” Researchers Darren Langdridge and Jamie Lawson Ph.D. explore this lifestyle through interviews with those who play. They want to know why folks love pretending to be puppies and what they get from it. Because understanding why people embrace playful, unconventional roles reveals how we chase connection, freedom, and sexual fulfillment.
💼 HOT JOBS
🇺🇸 Community and Content Coordinator, Dame Products [Apply]
🇺🇸 Knowledge Management Lead, Bumble Inc. [Apply]
🇬🇧 Senior Product Designer - Health, Flo Health Inc. [Apply]
🇬🇧 Staff Product Analyst, Flo Health Inc. [Apply]
🇬🇧 Senior Quality Assurance Specialist, MV.Health | MysteryVibe [Apply]
💰 INVESTMENTS
Arya raise $8.5M Series A
The round, which brings Arya's total funding to $16 million, was led by Ibex Investors, with participation from Play Ventures, Patron and Big Bets VC.
💡 Founder of the Week: Evie Gavrilovich
Evie Gavrilovich is a value-obsessed product manager with five years of experience in UX research and strategy. She worked at Feeld (sexual exploration app) and now leading the development of a new social app for bisexual and curious women, Skirt Society .
Connect to Evie Gavrilovich here.
Have a great holiday break!
Ready to apply to our next accelerator program, put your name down here for our 2025 Sextech Accelerator.
— Bryony