The search for a more meaningful connection has never been more critical. We live in a hyper-connected world, but equally, we feel the disconnect of what it means to be human.
In recent months, a wave of problem-solution-fit-driven entrepreneurs have been eager to deliver the perfect key to our nation’s largest public health issue: loneliness.
With reports indicating that one in three Australians experience loneliness, the space is ripe for innovation. However, some would argue mixing ‘belonging’ and ‘community’ with ‘active users’ and ‘customer lifetime value’ is like mixing oil and water.
The challenge lies in the fact that authentic human connection and flourishing community ecosystems are often built differently from scale-driven, user metric models. We humans are inherently social beings, born to connect. Can we consciously commodify our relationships?
When it comes to addressing the complexities of human relationships, many are already jumping on the connection bandwagon.
We have Bumble, promising a future where AI will ‘supercharge’ your love and your relationships, and Hinge with a US$1 million social impact initiative dedicated to helping gen Z find belonging and more in-person connections. Meanwhile, the former Tinder CEO is combating loneliness through a venture-backed AI-powered chatbot. In Australia alone, Google Trends has seen a 160% search increase for the ‘loneliness epidemic’. From dating to wellness to travel to tech, many promise a secret connection balm to enhance our human interactions and happiness.
As someone who has been deeply entrenched in the social connection space for over eight years, built a connection-focused social enterprise and collaborated with Harvard social scientists and leading experts in connection and loneliness, I believe there’s a clear distinction between genuine human connection and AI-driven relationship enhancement promises. So, before you turn to ChatGPT for real-relationship-building advice, let’s explore the landscape of connection pioneers across Australia delivering authentic, innovative solutions every day.
These eight entrepreneurs are redefining how we connect, creating products and services that foster real, meaningful relationships. Small businesses have a profound effect on our social wellbeing and these individuals are at the forefront of combating loneliness through innovation in Australia.
As we battle a culture of individualism there is a growing need for us all to re-connect to each other via our shared interests and activities, but how do you find your people?
The Bunch Up platform connects people for small, meaningful, in-person gatherings based on shared interests like board games, fitness, sports, exploring, learning new skills etc.
Founder Chai Bade has witnessed how powerful the platform has been at orchestrating small connection wins, from finding a running buddy to larger groups, like attending a karaoke night. It’s a real-world example of how technology is being used as the bridge to in-person social connection.
Set to launch in July 2024, Weaver is a science-grounded, relational health education platform dedicated to raising relational intelligence.
After graduating with a master’s in psychology, founder Christine Yeung is on an important mission to boost our relational health with digital resources, readily available on demand.
From a ‘Connection Studio’ with bite-sized content, to an ‘Intensive Relational Deep Dive’, Weaver wants to offer a more advanced learning experience that will help us become masters of meaningful connection.
Sonia Martin was once a manager working on the front line at a tertiary hospital witnessing people experiencing homelessness coming into emergency departments seeking connection, food and shelter. Armed with courage, she went on to start a healthcare service, originally out of her car over 10 years ago.
OneBridge provides health access and equity for Australians experiencing homelessness — they are the nurse angels delivering connection to our local Australian communities and social housing spaces.
They are dedicated to creating safe environments of care through empathy, compassion and kindness to some of our most vulnerable and isolated citizens, ensuring health equity for all. For those experiencing loneliness in our communities, often it is our healthcare workers who provide the moments of human connection we all need.
PALS is part of the connection movement to call on all healthcare professionals, like pharmacists, to prioritise and address loneliness and social isolation. It is the first international pharmacy initiative committed to raising awareness of loneliness to improve the health of patients and society.
As a pharmacist with a deeply personal experience with loneliness, Jenny set out to educate and inspire an entire industry. She has developed the world’s first pharmacy training program on loneliness with leading connection experts from the World Health Organization and is on an important mission to ensure all health leaders, especially pharmacists, know how to act upon the loneliness that they often identify in their patients.
Making friends as an adult can be hard. Conscious Connection makes it approachable and easy by hosting social events where everyone wants to make genuine friendships and have meaningful conversations over food.
I arrived solo at a Conscious Connection dinner on the Gold Coast and met some incredible new friends in a very welcoming environment. Founder Sherry Hackney has a gifted ability to match you at tables based on like-minded interests, so there are no awkward silences.
You’ve reached mid-life and you are questioning the promise of studying hard, working hard, and saying and doing all the right things when it has not led you to the happiness society promised. Sound familiar? Humans: Connecting is here to help.
This organisation provides practical advice and support to those who realise that they’ve been experiencing loneliness and have resolved to take steps to feel more connected.
Founder Phil McAuliffe is known for destigmatising loneliness, which is in high need as 58% of Australians report (State of The Nation: Social Connection In Australia 2023 Report) they do not talk to others about being lonely when they feel it due to feeling shame.
LikeMinded is on a mission to increase connection through in-person events and experiences using AI/MI technology and a reverse-engineered swipe-and-match functionality to find people who relate to you while doing the things you love.
Inspired by the importance of ‘Third Spaces’, LikeMinded knows that authentic connection happens when personal interests, passions and shared experiences can be made, together. With an early alpha version now live, and a public beta launching in June 2024, Amber and her team are gearing up to launch a real-life solution to help catalyse shared experiences and mutual interests to generate an authentic human connection.
As we navigate the complexities of modern life, it’s these connection pioneers who give us hope. Their innovations are driven by the fundamental intrinsic human need to connect authentically. Together, let’s build a more empathetic and connected Australia.
Nim de Swardt is an intrapreneur turned social entrepreneur and co-founder of RE-CONNECT.
Never miss a story: sign up to SmartCompany’s free daily newsletter and find our best stories on LinkedIn.
Nim De Swardt is an intrapreneur turned social entrepreneur, the co-founder of RE-CONNECT and co-founder of Tomorrow’s Air.
