Amid an epidemic of loneliness, recent Cal Poly graduates are working to combat social separation through a new app that promotes in-person human connection—Social Spark.
Created by CEO Sam Moberly through the Cal Poly Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Social Spark has helped to connect more than 3,000 members from the Bay Area to LA by planning meetups at local restaurants or hiking trails.
“Social Spark started as my entrepreneurial senior project at Cal Poly SLO,” Moberly said. “I was studying mechanical engineering and minoring in entrepreneurship, and I figured I would try something different, and I really wanted to solve some sort of problem related to mental or physical health.”
After the U.S. Surgeon General announced in 2023 that loneliness is an epidemic and a Harvard study showed that the No. 1 happiness indicator was positive relationships, Moberly and her group at Social Spark decided to be a part of the solution.
Memberships for the app currently cater to people ages 21 to 29 years old because that age group is experiencing the highest rates of loneliness, Moberly said. She related this to when students graduate college and lose the academic community they once had.
“I had a lot of friends who had just graduated and were basically talking about how it was super hard to meet people after college, which was something that I didn’t realize during college,” she said. “That’s not something you really talk about during college. You think that the amazing social experience that you have in college is probably going to continue afterward.”
But for some, it doesn’t continue as graduates pursue careers out of state or move back home.
“So, our goal is really to make something that was super effective in building real friendships, and we realized that to do that, you really have to bring people together in person,” she said, as opposed to apps like Bumble BFF where users swipe to find their new bestie.
When signing up, members will fill out an application with their interests and availability. Social Spark then plans events and invites members to meet with like-minded people. Each member is then mailed a specific Social Spark bracelet, so they know who to approach at meetups.
“You might get invited to check out a new restaurant in town with a group of five to 10. You’ll hang out for a couple hours, and then maybe a week later, you’ll go with another group to a different coffee shop. And basically, you’re just continually rotating and meeting new people in small groups, all in person,” Moberly said.
Since its launch in April, Moberly said the platform has seen a lot of success, and just last month it held 130 events throughout the state including in San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles, Atascadero, and Santa Maria.
Moberly said Social Spark doesn’t intend to stop there, though.
“We definitely have plans to expand beyond that since we’re really finding that this prospect is resonating with 21- to 29-year-olds,” she said. “Our plan is to expand first geographically with this age group, and then incorporate additional age groups.”
According to Moberly, Social Spark hopes to expand beyond California and be available for those in their 30s and even expand to special demographic groups like single moms, families of veterans, and recent retirees.
Moberly said the platform aims to use technology to promote more in-person connections.
“The whole world is becoming more and more digital,” she said. “That can be great in so many ways, but we really want to encourage in-person connection because as technology-focused as our world becomes, the one thing that you can’t replace with technology is social connection.”
Members get one free meetup per month, then pay a monthly premium to receive more invites. To sign up, visit sparkfriendships.com.
Fast fact
• Central Coast Moving and Storage Co. announced it is donating 300 turkeys this Thanksgiving to support North County families in need—100 more than it donated last year. Families can pick up their turkey on Nov. 15 at the following locations and times: 11:30 a.m. at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, 844 9th St., Paso Robles; 1 p.m. at ECHO Atascadero Campus, 6370 Atascadero Ave.; 2 p.m. at People’s Self-Help Housing, Rolling Hills Apartments, 999 Las Tablas Road, Templeton; and 4 p.m. at People’s Self-Help Housing, Canyon Creek Apartments, 400 Oak Hill Road, Paso Robles. For every $25 donated, another turkey can be given to a family in need. Make a GoFundMe donation at https://gofund.me/e76805e6. Δ
Reach Staff Writer Libbey Hanson at lhanson@newtimesslo.com.
This article appears in Nov 14-24, 2024.