222: Connecting Gen Z Through Chance Encounters

222 is a startup seeking to tackle loneliness among young adults by connecting Gen Z through curated in-person encounters. There are no profiles, swipes, or DMs—instead, the app fosters serendipitous connections through organized events.

Launched in 2021, 222 started with curated backyard dinners in Los Angeles, designed to bring together small groups of strangers. Its success led to expansion into New York and the development of an app, which charges a one-time fee or subscription to access events.

“Our generation is lonelier than the last, and it’s affecting our physical and mental health”, shared 222’s Co-founder and COO Danial Hashemi with Business Insider. Studies support this critical need for real-life connections, with significant percentages of Gen Z reporting increased loneliness due to technology.

222’s approach contrasts with traditional social apps. Users start with a personality test, based on which 222’s AI algorithm curates their evening of connection through happenstance. By facilitating low-pressure, group-focused experiences, it enables users to bond over shared interests and avoid the high stakes or added pressures found on other apps.

Investors are taking note of this trend. 222 raised $2.5 million post-Y Combinator, reflecting investors’ confidence in its unique model. Offering meaningful, offline connections in an increasingly digital and post-pandemic world is appreciating in value. However, scaling models which rely on in-person events presents challenges when compared with software-based ones.

“A lot more people are coming around to this idea of in-real-life social,” according to Hashemi, who echoes the frustrations of many users of traditional apps that fail to deliver on their promises of connection and friendship. By facilitating spontaneous face-to-face interactions, 222 aims to combat the growing sense of isolation among young people.

Learn more about 222 by visiting its website here.