Friendship App Pie Raises $11.5 Million in Funding

The United States is experiencing a loneliness epidemic, with a significant portion of the population reporting feelings of isolation. To address this issue, Andy Dunn, founder of the menswear label Bonobos, has developed Pie, an app aimed at facilitating the formation of new friendships. The company announced it has secured $11.5 million in Series A funding, led by Forerunner Ventures.

Pie connects users with local events and employs an algorithm to identify individuals with whom users are likely to connect. Dunn, known as a pioneer of the direct-to-consumer (DTC) model with Bonobos, believes technology can play a role in combating social isolation. "We've been building Pie with a lot of momentum for two years," Dunn stated. "Now, we need to start a movement and bring in an army of people who believe that getting people together is important."

The app has undergone testing in Chicago and Austin and is now expanding nationwide. Nadya Okamoto, founder of the period care brand August, has joined as co-founder and CMO. Pie aims to address the challenge of repeated interactions and deepening connections, which Dunn argues is crucial for friendships to develop. The app currently boasts 300,000 active users.

Dunn positions Pie as a counterpoint to social media. While many social media platforms focus on passive content consumption and advertising, Pie encourages active participation, such as attending events and messaging other users. The goal is to create a "social operating system" that supports users from initial connection to fostering genuine friendships.