Pie

The best communities aren’t built in comments sections. They’re built in rooms full of real people, sharing real conversations, in spaces that actually?feel?good to be in.?? That’s exactly what we’re creating at?Pie2K—our Y2K-inspired mansion takeover at?SXSW, bringing together?100+ of the most influential community builders, conveners, and creators?who are shaping the future of?IRL connection ?? We are thrilled to be hosting a?incredible people like: ??♀?Elle Beecher, Forbes 30 Under 30, founder of The Board Walks,?a? ?weekly walk???for meaningful conversations in Austin and San Francisco that's brought over 10,000 curious people together since 2022. ???Dr. Marisa G. Franco, author of?#Platonic, an expert on the science of friendship and what it takes to create lasting human connection. ?? Nick Gray, author of?The 2-Hour Cocktail Party, a master of designing gatherings that break through small talk and spark real bonds. ?? Cate Luzio, Founder and CEO of @luminary , a global professional growth platform and community designed to uplift, upskill, and connect women. Alongside?a stacked lineup of creators, hosts, and culture-makers, we’re diving into: ?? How to build friendships in the digital age?(without relying on the algorithm) ?? The new era of hosting & IRL community-building ?? Curated conversations, intentional matchmaking & next-level gatherings And of course,?because this is Pie House, there will also be: ?? Crying in the bar bathroom, a?creator confession storytelling hour?for unfiltered sharing ?? Tacos techno & tattoos partyPie House is about reclaiming?how we connect, how we gather, and how we build relationships that last. If this sounds like your vibe, check out the full lineup & request an invite:? https://lnkd.in/gMJKirGX See you in Austin. #SXSW #PieHouse #CommunityBuilding #Friendship #IRLConnection

Yesterday, Black Student Athlete Association - IIT hosted Jordan Williams on campus. He shared valuable experiences of how he transitioned from college sports to the real world and what prompted him to build one of the largest run clubs in the city of Chicago - Chicago Run Collective. Jordan also introduced us to Pie , a app where you can find social events in your city. One of my biggest takeaways from yesterday was to always participate and pitch yourself! Thanks for coming Jordan!!

Andy Dunn says he thinks the answer to ending loneliness isn't technology itself but rather people who decide to show up and put themselves out there. "I don't think the algorithm can do it," he said. "I think we can do it." Amanda Hoover digs into the rise of friendship apps like Pie, as well as the executives and VCs funding tech companies combatting the loneliness epidemic.

????Big News: Pie is Launching in San Francisco! We’re thrilled to announce that?San Francisco?now has its very own Pie feed, filled with free plans, local events, and opportunities to connect IRL. Even better? We’re signing up?SF creators?to make the Pie experience even more dynamic and tailored to the city’s unique vibe ???? (Check out: https://lnkd.in/gBXgjRHQ ) ??What’s Pie? Pie is a social app on a mission to help people make friends. We know that real friendships don’t happen in one hang, so we use tech to facilitate the two essential ingredients of friendship formation: ?? Shared experiences?-think: events, plans, and activities that bring people together ??Recurring interactions?- the magic of seeing familiar faces over and over, until “acquaintance” turns into “friend” Our vision for pie is a a world where finding things to do and friends to do them with is -- easy as?pie ?? To our SF community:?Your feed is officially live, and we can’t wait to see the connections you create. Let’s make friendship happen, one plan at a time. PS: got feedback? Reach us at?[email protected] Explore Pie today and check out?what’s happening in SF ?? https://www.getpie.app/ ?? Thank you Amanda Silberling for helping us make this real! https://lnkd.in/gh7sAj5f

Why Gen Z is the Loneliest Generation—and How We Can Change That ?? Did you know that 73% of Gen Z report feeling lonely, more than any other generation? Loneliness has quietly become the "L word" we don’t talk about, despite its growing impact on mental health. Growing up in a primarily digital world has created a paradox for Gen Z: constant connectivity yet deep social isolation. At Pie, we think we need to change the stigma. Loneliness is a quiet crisis. "Loneliness is more than just isolation: It’s the subjective experience of craving more social interaction than you currently have." By bridging the gap between the digital and the physical, we’re focused on bringing people together in meaningful ways. ?? The future is bright if we focus on building products that prioritize IRL connection over screen time. Together, we can rewrite the narrative on loneliness and create a more connected world. #GenZ #Loneliness #MentalHealth #PieSocial #DigitalToIRL #InRealLifeConnections https://lnkd.in/gUHQcqYd

?? Why do we want to build a startup for the soul? Social media profoundly changed the way we connect, turning the digital world into a doom-scroll, where we watch snippets of social scenes through screens, rather than actively live it. It's easier than ever to see what others are doing, but harder to turn those glimpses into real memories with friends. For #GenZ, who grew up with the IRL/ Online barriers blurred, this can feel like both a gift and a curse— potential connections to many, yet close intimate relationships to few. It is the growing desire to bring those online interactions #IRL that was the driver (we're punny sometimes) for Pie. We believe doing things you enjoy with people you love should be as easy as calling an uber ?? How did you meet your closest friends? Share your thoughts below! ?? Read more about Andy Dunn's new venture here (that's us ??): https://lnkd.in/g7ddeywW

Weekly Insights in the Consumer Brand Sphere. ?? ? ? Bonobos Co-Founder Andy Dunn's new social app Pie recently raised $11.5 million in Series A funding! Congrats! ? ZBiotics has launched a probiotic drink mix that turns sugar into prebiotic fiber, aiming to improve gut health. This is the company’s second innovative product after its Pre-Alcohol Probiotic Drink.? ? Shopping just got?easier and faster - Amazon now lets you pay with?PayPal?for Buy with Prime purchases. Plus, get?real-time delivery estimates?in TikTok and Google ads for a seamless shopping experience. Want to keep in the know? Subscribe to our Weekly Insights?newsletter?and get the latest updates in your inbox every week! → https://lnkd.in/edN-Fqfw

Bonobos founder Andy Dunn wants to end social isolation. His new social app Pie added $11.5M in a Series A led by Forerunner Ventures, with participation from Twitter and Medium cofounder Ev Williams and others — bringing its total funding to $24M. Over the past 20 years, average time spent with friends has fallen by 20 hours per month — and 49% of Americans have three or fewer close pals. Declared an epidemic by the surgeon general, loneliness has become a focus for startups like The Nudge, RealRoots, Tribe, and The Breakfast.

Our founder Andy talking Pie on CNBC! Check it out to learn: - why we started pie ?? - what our monetization pilot is ?? - the #1 predictor of happiness at work ?? - where we are based ??? - how many pieoneers there are ?? - and how long a brain fart can be on live ??

As a society, we've made strides in moving the mental health conversation forward, but there’s still work to be done. ???Mental health at work is no longer a “nice-to-have”—it’s essential ...?? We're proud to see our founder, Andy Dunn leading that conversation alongside Elyse Cohen, and LINUS KARLSSON at Fast Company Innovation Festival. We believe it is time we all move beyond surface-level wellness programs. Leaders who care about mental health should be: ??? Setting core values: creating a respectful work environment. ??Foster transparent dialogue: Set clear expectations on workloads and communication, ensuring employees feel supported and balanced. ??Incorporate mental health education: Equip teams with training on mental health basics, creating a culture of understanding and support. At Pie, we’re working to get people “addicted to real life” again—because deep relationships and support matter (in and out of work) #MentalHealthMatters #Leadership #WorkplaceCulture https://lnkd.in/gGiZ7bCg