Friendly Together: Redefining Connection and Rebuilding Community in Cities

In the heart of New York City, amidst the bustle of busy streets and crowded subway cars, a growing epidemic is quietly taking hold: loneliness. Despite living in one of the most densely populated urban areas in the world, people are more isolated than ever. Ana Gonzalez Galindo, founder of Friendly Together, saw firsthand the impact of this isolation. She experienced it personally when she moved to the U.S. while pregnant and struggled to build a support network. This challenge led her to a powerful realization, people long for genuine, in-person connections that go beyond fleeting digital interactions. Today, Friendly Together is answering that call, offering a platform that helps individuals, couples, and families build meaningful relationships, one curated experience at a time.

The Rise of Loneliness and the Digital Disconnect:

Loneliness is more than just an emotional feeling; it’s a public health crisis. Studies show that loneliness has the same negative health impacts as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Despite the rise of social apps and dating platforms, the problem has only intensified. These platforms, though designed to connect, often foster superficial interactions rather than true connections. Users swipe through profiles, exchange brief messages, and rarely meet in person. While technology promises connection, it often deepens the sense of isolation.

Ana’s vision for Friendly Together was born from this gap. She recognized that existing social apps were not addressing the real issue, people weren’t lonely because they lacked virtual contacts, but because they lacked authentic human connections in their everyday lives. And that’s where Friendly Together comes in: a platform that brings people together offline, focusing on in-person experiences where true connections can be nurtured and friendships can flourish.

The Founder’s Journey: From Research to Reality

Ana’s journey to creating Friendly Together was shaped by her own personal experiences and academic research. After moving to the U.S., she found herself navigating the challenges of pregnancy and motherhood in a city far from family and friends. The struggle to find meaningful support sparked a deep curiosity about loneliness. How could adults, especially those in cities, build connections in a world that seemed increasingly disconnected?

Her journey took her to Stanford, where she focused her MBA research on loneliness, cultural connection, and the psychology of belonging. It was there that Ana began to explore the ways in which urban isolation affects individuals and families. She uncovered a critical insight: people crave connection, but traditional methods, online interactions and dating apps, often fail to address the deeper need for in-person, meaningful encounters. Her research pointed to a crucial finding: authentic relationships are built through shared experiences, not digital profiles.

With this foundation, Ana set out to create a solution. She envisioned a platform that would blend technology and human connection in a way that made meeting people and forming friendships effortless, intentional, and deeply impactful. Thus, Friendly Together was born, a community-building platform designed to host curated, in-person experiences where participants could bond over activities that foster connection rather than just exchange names or numbers.

The Core of Friendly Together: Curated, Welcoming Experiences

What sets Friendly Together apart from other social platforms is its focus on curated, real-world experiences that bring people together naturally. Instead of relying on algorithms to match users, Friendly Together creates spaces where people can connect organically. Whether it’s a cooking class, a family-friendly workshop, or a social gathering, the events are designed to be intimate, welcoming, and free from the awkwardness that often accompanies traditional networking.

“Loneliness survives in silence. The moment people feel safe enough to show up as themselves, everything changes, that’s the world we’re building at Friendly,” Ana says, describing the heart of the platform’s mission. By curating events with this philosophy in mind, Friendly Together ensures that people can show up without fear of rejection, judgment, or pressure. Instead of feeling like they’re part of a transactional exchange, participants are encouraged to engage in authentic conversations and form bonds that are built on shared experiences rather than surface-level interactions.

The platform’s approach is also refreshingly inclusive. Unlike many social apps that target a single demographic, Friendly Together is designed for everyone, individuals, couples, and families. It’s not just for singles looking for love or friends; it’s for anyone seeking a deeper sense of connection in their everyday lives. Families can attend kid-friendly events, couples can explore new hobbies together, and individuals can form friendships with like-minded people who share similar interests.

Creating a Multi-Generational Community:

One of the standout features of Friendly Together is its ability to cater to multiple generations. Ana’s vision was to create a platform where everyone, regardless of their life stage, could find meaningful ways to connect. This broad approach is part of what makes the platform so unique. It’s not just about matching individuals with others of the same age or background; it’s about fostering a multi-generational ecosystem where everyone has a place.

The events are carefully designed to ensure that each participant, no matter their age or stage in life, feels comfortable and welcomed. By partnering with local creators, chefs, and event hosts, Friendly Together offers elevated, thoughtfully designed gatherings that transcend the typical “meetup” experience. These curated experiences provide the perfect environment for new friendships to bloom, whether it’s a young professional seeking new connections or a family looking to meet others in a similar situation.

The Power of Community: Building a Movement

As Friendly Together grows, it is making waves in New York City, where it first launched. Hundreds of New Yorkers have attended events, many sharing stories of how these gatherings have had a profound impact on their lives. From making lifelong friends to finding a sense of belonging in a city where it’s easy to feel lost, Friendly Together is redefining what it means to connect in the modern world.

“The community we’re building is more than just an app. It’s a movement,” says Ana. “We’re showing that, even in the age of isolation, it’s still possible to find true connection.”

With its intentional approach to community-building, Friendly Together is setting the stage for a nationwide expansion. Ana envisions a future where the platform’s curated experiences bring people together in cities across the country, offering a much-needed solution to the loneliness epidemic that has taken root in urban spaces.

Award Recognition: Best Social App for Making Friends in NYC (2025)

Friendly Together has recently been recognized as the “Best Social App for Making Friends in New York City of 2025”. This prestigious honor was awarded by EvergreenAwards.com, a renowned authority in the industry. The recognition is a testament to the platform’s innovative approach and its commitment to creating meaningful, real-world connections for New Yorkers. This achievement highlights Friendly Together’s growing influence and its role in reshaping how people connect in the city.

Learn more about the award here.

Ready to be part of a community that prioritizes real, meaningful connections? Join the movement with Friendly Together. Discover a world of curated, in-person experiences designed to help you meet, connect, and build lasting friendships. Whether you're an individual, a couple, or a family, Friendly Together offers the opportunities you need to form real relationships in a world that’s too often disconnected. Follow @friendlytogetherapp on Instagram for updates and tips, or connect with Ana directly at @ana.is.friendly for inspiration and insights on building meaningful connections.

By reimagining how friendships are made and fostering intentional, in-person connections, Friendly Together is leading the charge in the fight against loneliness. Through its inclusive, community-driven approach, Ana Gonzalez Galindo and her team are helping to create a world where belonging is no longer a rarity, it’s the norm.