Our Motivation
Social media profits by maximizing screen time at the expense of real-world relationships. We believe technology can facilitate face-to-face connections rather than displace them.
IRLFTW isn't a social network. It's a tool for real-world communities to strengthen existing bonds through one-on-one coffees, walks, or meals.
Our Approach
Face-to-Face Connections
IRLFTW prioritizes actual meetups. We minimize distractions and avoid habit-forming mechanics. Success isn't measured by app usage, but by the quality of face-to-face connections.
Real-World Communities
We support existing communities whose members already share context (work, school, faith). We want to help these communities grow authentic, meaningful relationships.
Sustainable & Ad-Free
We make money by charging companies and large organizations. This enables IRLFTW to remain free of advertising and data brokering. We are committed to real-world communities, not advertisers.
How It Works
Create your profile
List your interests and let IRLFTW know what types of meetups you're open to, like getting coffee or going for a walk. You can also choose whether to list your profile in the community directory.
Choose your connections
IRLFTW will periodically suggest community members to connect with based on shared interests. Simply accept, or pass and wait for additional suggestions. If you've listed your profile in the community directory, you can also browse the profiles of other commuity members who have opted in as well.
Meet in person
Use IRLFTW's built-in messaging system to coordinate a time & place to meet up and keep your contact info private.
Provide optional feedback
After your meetup, we'll send you an optional one-question post-meetup survey. It's super brief, and helps us make IRLFTW more helpful over time.
Who We Work With
We partner with real-world communities that value and want to encourage more face-to-face interaction among their members.
- Companies that want to strengthen team bonds and reduce isolation (particularly in hybrid work environments)
- Schools that want to support student well-being by fostering peer connections and mentorship opportunities
- Faith groups that want to facilitate deeper fellowship beyond scheduled services or events
- Civic associations that want to increase member engagement and collaboration
Our Funding Model: We fund our operations by charging companies and large organizations (>1,000 members). This enables us to provide free access to 99% of schools, faith groups, and civic associations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my data safe and private?
Protecting your privacy is very important to us. Your profile is only visible to members within your own community, and you can easily opt out of your community's directory. You can also create a separate profile for each community. We only collect information that helps us enable better face-to-face connections, and never sell your data.
How does IRLFTW find matches?
We use your profile, including your shared interests, general location within your community, and meetup preferences. The goal isn't complex algorithmic pairing, but rather providing relevant starting points – "You both like X and are near Y" – to make it easier to meet up.
What if I don't want to meet a suggested contact?
Just pass. IRLFTW is zero pressure: There are no invitations or rejections, so you don't need to worry about offending someone.
Help! I don't know what to say at a meetup.
IRLFTW provides social scaffolding to help avoid awkward encounters: We let both members know what interests you have in common, and suggest questions you can ask at the meetup.
How much time does IRLFTW require?
A few minutes. After you set up your profile, we'll email you when we find new suggestions for other members to connect with. We also recommend you periodically update your profile as your interests change.
Is IRLFTW a dating app?
IRLFTW is designed for platonic connections, friendships, mentorships, and general community within existing groups. Community administrators can also configure additional settings according to their group's specific needs and norms.
What does IRLFTW stand for?
In Real Life, For the Win
"Humans evolved for rich, synchronous, embodied interaction. Online interactions are often asynchronous, disembodied, and lack the non-verbal richness needed for deep connection and trust."
"While the internet can facilitate connections, it often lacks the serendipity, depth, and trust-building mechanisms inherent in sharing physical space and experiences."
Ready to Connect?
Feel free to drop us a line. We're excited to support your community and help your members build stronger relationships, one face-to-face conversation at a time.