Why and how I co-started Bridgit

In over 2 decades, I've built, co-built & helped build quite many ventures. From media to live entertainment, business services, fintech, martech, hardware & software.

Last summer, we were sitting with Valdis Krumins at a café working on a project. I looked out of the window, and told Valdis: let's build something that we'd actually enjoy. Not that we should be in love with it, but something that we'd wake up in the morning knowing we'd be working on, and we'd not think what the heck we are doing and why.

Don't misunderstand me - I don't hate what I do. But you get it. When you've done things many times, everything seems so... generic.

I've been blessed to travel a lot. There are moments when I love it and times when I feel lost. Scrolling busy streets or empty parks at night, seeing unfamiliar faces enjoying their parties. And what's surprising - visiting coworking spaces, gyms, or shows, I saw people that miss... people. It's full of people but you see lonely and sad faces. Even on a plane, you can see passengers who just crave a company.

My favorite podcast, Hidden Brain, hosted scientist Nicholas Epley, who shared research on commuters in London's Tube. Over 1/4 were uncomfortable starting a chat with a stranger. and majority enjoyed the ride much more when approached by one. Zero rejections. I get it. I'm so intro-extrovert. I struggle to start a conversation. But when I start one and it turns out meaningful, I love it.

I wondered: what if people like me had an app that matches them with the right person for the right activity, at a convenient location and time? There isn't one that does this as simply and smartly as what Tinder does for dating. We built Bridgit. An assistant for busy, active people who are - from time to time - lonely. Those who'd go to that concert if they had someone to go with. Who'd love to speak with someone outside of their corporation, nearby, about this and that. We published MVP https://lnkd.in/d7TKaD9j and tested it. A million things to improve, but people actually see value in this.

Launching this spring in two of the world's loneliest cities I'm quite familiar with - Los Angeles & San Francisco. The U.S. Surgeon General has called loneliness a public health epidemic. We want to help fix that.

Elizabete Lībiete joined in. She knows about finding your people in unfamiliar places. Elizabete is heading to California this April, where Bridgit is exhibiting at Startup Grind.

A week ago, we published 2 Launch Partner posts for LA & SF. Three-digit number of applications, without promising pay at this stage. And multiple DMs from people with whom this story resonates.

For now, Y·US Ventures and I have been funding Bridgit. We're raising this fall, open to an early partner now at a discount.

If you'd like to get involved in getting Bridgit off the ground - comment or DM me. And if you're an investor heading to SG Global April 27-29 - DM me for an invitation.

The photo: a selfie as I was hiking solo.