Andy Dunn's new app Pie uses AI to help you make friends | TechCrunch
Mar 04, 2025 - techcrunch.com
Andy Dunn, founder of Bonobos, has launched a new venture called Pie, a social app designed to facilitate real-life connections. With a successful $11.5 million Series A funding round, Pie has amassed over 130,000 monthly active users in San Francisco and Chicago. However, the app faced challenges as its events became crowded, making it difficult for attendees to connect. To address this, Pie acquihired two event organizers who developed Sparked Connections, an AI-powered quiz that predicts compatibility among attendees. This tool is integrated into events branded as “Sparked by Pie,” where participants take a personality test to be grouped with others they are likely to get along with.
The AI-driven approach aims to tackle the problem of loneliness by enhancing social interactions through technology. At events like “Coffee with Strangers,” attendees are grouped into chats based on quiz results, allowing them to connect before meeting in person. Dunn believes that AI can help solve the complex issue of forming connections, a task that would be challenging without technological intervention. Despite concerns about relying on algorithms for socialization, the integration of AI in social apps is already prevalent, as seen in platforms like Instagram and Bumble.
Key takeaways:
Andy Dunn, founder of Bonobos, has launched a new social app called Pie to help people make friends in real life.
Pie has raised $11.5 million in Series A funding and has over 130,000 monthly active users in San Francisco and Chicago.
To address the challenge of crowded events, Pie acquired Sparked Connections, an AI-powered quiz to match attendees likely to get along.
The AI quiz groups people into smaller chats before events, aiming to facilitate connections and reduce loneliness.
