SA国际传媒

This is the final article in a three-part series series on how loneliness impacts all aspects of the startup world, from founders to the technology that creates and combats the condition.

Editor鈥檚 note: Changes have been made to reflect Ilona Sturm and her experiences more accurately.

Sometimes Ilona Sturm just wants to grab a beer and hang out. But ironically, the older she鈥檚 gotten, the harder it is for the to make plans with other people.

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One of her friends prefers to stay in and watch TV alone while another one has a significant other so she only makes time for date nights.

So, when Sturm is in the mood for a casual beer, she goes alone to or and brings her drawing pad along. For a writer and artist, she says, “it is critical to enjoy being alone.”

鈥淚鈥檓 57, but I still think like a 30 year old,鈥� Sturm said on a recent morning over the phone. 鈥淕od help the folks that are not artists and don鈥檛 have the inner resources to [be alone].鈥�

Sturm embodies what we鈥檝e seen as we鈥檝e delved into this topic for our Loneliness In Tech Series: first, that loneliness is a feeling to be managed, not necessarily combatted. Second, that in order to better understand isolation, we need to be open to being vulnerable and not confuse likes with affirmation and conversation.

However, although she鈥檚 following these rules, Sturm still struggles to have genuine interactions on a whim.

This leads us to our final topic for the series: Tech stepping in to make face-to-face interactions more human.

Face To Face

For some startups, there鈥檚 a in charging people to meet other people. After all, the addressable market of lonely individuals is quite high.

, for example, is a platform that connects women over the age of 50 for social events. It was part of the most recent batch, and it was started by and . Revel membership is currently free for inaugural members, but Marrone said members will eventually join for a $15 a month subscription.

Marrone, on stage at Y Combinator, said there are 50 million women over 50 in the United States alone. She added that these women have time, money, and energy to spend but nowhere to go.

鈥淚t鈥檚 all about meeting each other in the real world, because we know that that鈥檚 how people of all ages form the strongest connections,鈥� said Wahr. She added that all of her the organized gatherings are 10 women or less to keep them intimate.

As for events available, think decluttering workshops, printmaking workshops, a picnic by Lake Merritt, or, in Sturm鈥檚 case, a tour at the Museum of Modern Art in San Francisco.

Using Revel鈥檚 platform, Sturm hosted a tour at the museum on a recent Monday and four people showed up, including herself. The platform has been live in the Bay area for a month.

Other startups in this category include MyScoot, also a Y Combinator startup, which lets hosts throw parties and charge for attendance, and of course MeetUp, which was bought by WeWork in 2017 for $200 million.

But friendship requires more than just showing up, it means being genuine once you get there.

鈥淚f you are older and you go to a random meetup that isn鈥檛 super focused鈥� that鈥檚 the kind of vulnerability that will not pay off,鈥� said Sturm.

Inner Self

Taking a step back, in order for a community to be vulnerable, might come down to individual mindfulness to set the tone.

聽is a startup which sports the tagline 鈥渨e make being thoughtful easy.鈥� It鈥檚 defined as a 鈥渧irtual relationship assistant鈥� and helps users stay in touch with friends and families.

On the company鈥檚 website, it says that we鈥檙e all disconnected. 鈥淐onstant availability gives the illusion of connection. Online shopping, on-demand streaming, and working from home all corrode opportunities for human interaction,鈥� the website reads.

To join, users complete a 15 minute 鈥渙nboarding chat鈥� where the company learns about you and important relationships in your life. Then you pick how much time you want to invest in those relationships every day, week, and month. The assistant sends reminders such as call home regularly, chat with a friend even if there鈥檚 a time difference, and plan a birthday gift in advance. It charges $20 dollars a month, .

There鈥檚 also that encourages 鈥渄igital wellness鈥� by having users spend more time away from their phones. Users can track the progress of phone usage while studying, sleeping, or working, said , the co-founder and CEO of the startup.

Flipd has also started partnering with wellness content creators to host music, sleep stories, and meditation. Other startups that help with the latter category include , , and Wave.

Harvey thinks Flipd can help with loneliness.

鈥淲hen you’re constantly reminded that everyone on the internet is living their best lives and you’re at home scrolling on the couch, the best thing you can do for yourself is to get off your phone and engage your mind and body in another activity,鈥� she said.

A Mix Of Both

, a community manager with , thinks both in-person interaction and mindfulness apps aren鈥檛 the perfect solution. Yet.

While at the University of Pennsylvania, Bian started hosting gatherings for strangers to meet each other in three hour blocks. The time period was key: 鈥淚 think you need at least three hours for people to physically feel away, and create the energy of an alternate environment.鈥�

While Bian thinks startups like and Revel are helpful, she also said they aren鈥檛 a 鈥渃omprehensive enough solution for building a socially connected future.鈥�

鈥淭hese companies do an amazing job for creating opportunities for connection, but what鈥檚 lacking is having real connection be a value.鈥� Part of the reason, Bian said, is rooted in American culture.

We need a 鈥渧alue system that is about connecting and have connection be a value,鈥� she said.

In her observation, community leaders should be responsible for facilitating that value.

鈥淚f we鈥檙e talking tactically, [it鈥檚 about] the lighting, the mood, the sound, and the ambiance when you first step in the room,鈥� Bian said. The first 10 minutes sets the tone for how the conversation should go.

Circling back to Sturm. She鈥檚 been thinking of moving to Europe for the more casual culture. Until that day, however, she鈥檚 optimistic.

鈥淟oneliness is one way of interpreting an empty feeling,鈥� Sturm said. 鈥淏ut that empty feeling can also be turned into something that is very meaningful, if we don鈥檛 stop at the initial feeling of it.鈥�

Featured image by聽