This app just raised $14M to take on the loneliness epidemic

Alyx van der Vorm, a 25-year-old Harvard graduate, found herself pondering her social life one Friday night. While the idea of meeting up with friends felt daunting, she realized that making plans was often more challenging than simply staying home to watch a movie. Van der Vorm belongs to Generation Z, a demographic that, despite being hyper-connected, frequently reports feelings of isolation and loneliness. With a background in computational neuroscience, van der Vorm understands the serious implications of social disconnection. "The data is stark. Isolation can be as physically damaging as universally recognized health risks," she remarked. This realization spurred her to launch Clyx in 2020, a platform designed to help users discover community events and forge new friendships. Now, five years later, Clyx boasts 50,000 active users who are purchasing tickets for events, alongside over 200,000 users exploring various activities. The startup recently secured $14 million in a Series A funding round led by Blitzscaling Ventures, with contributions from notable investors like Venmo co-founder Iqram Magdon-Ismail and former F1 driver Nico Rosberg. The functionality of Clyx is straightforward: it aggregates event data from platforms like Ticketmaster and TikTok, showcasing local events users can join. Additionally, it allows users to upload their contacts, revealing which events their friends are attending. The app also features a compatibility engine that matches users with potential friends at events. "Instead of entering a room full of strangers, you can connect with people who share your interests right away," van der Vorm explained. Clyx encourages users to reach out and reconnect, alleviating the discomfort often associated with initiating contact and nurturing new friendships. Another innovative feature is Programs, which organizes a series of events targeted at fostering relationships among attendees. Van der Vorm stated, "That repetition transforms acquaintances into real friendships, and this has been one of our most exciting developments." Currently operating in Miami and London, Clyx is set to launch in New York and Sao Paulo soon. The company is focused on enhancing its product, forming cultural partnerships, and expanding its team. While other platforms like Meetup and Bumble have previously aimed to facilitate social connections, van der Vorm believes Clyx has the potential to differentiate itself. "My vision is to create an environment where spending time with friends is as easy as scrolling through your phone. If that leads to happier, healthier individuals who feel a sense of belonging, that’s the impact I seek to achieve with Clyx," she concluded.