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Key people at Locals.org.
Locals.org was founded in 2020 by Natalia Vodianova (Co-Founder).
Locals.org operates a social platform designed to foster real-life connections by enabling users to create and join shared experiences. The platform facilitates in-person meetups based on common passions and interests, leveraging digital tools to bridge the gap between online interaction and offline engagement. It differentiates by integrating a philanthropic element, encouraging hosts to associate experiences with charitable donations to a chosen cause.
The company was co-founded by Eugene Nevgen, Natalia Vodianova, Sergey Gonchar, and Timon Afinsky, with development commencing around mid-2020. The founders recognized a growing need for authentic human connection in an increasingly digital world, aiming to provide a counter-trend solution to traditional social media. Their collective vision stemmed from a desire to leverage technology for positive social impact, promoting community engagement and giving back.
The product serves individuals seeking to expand their social circles and engage in meaningful activities, from hikes to cultural outings, with like-minded people. Locals.org’s overarching mission is to empower individuals to easily organize and participate in real-world events, fostering genuine connections and supporting charitable initiatives simultaneously. The company envisions a future where technology enhances, rather than replaces, face-to-face interaction.
Locals.org is a social discovery and community platform that connects users for real-life events, activities, and gatherings based on shared interests, combating loneliness and superficial online interactions.[1][2][3] It enables creators—such as entrepreneurs, fitness coaches, and community leaders—to organize paid events, manage memberships, process payments via Stripe, and build monetizable communities, while users discover local clubs, join small-group meetups, and foster offline bonds.[1][4][6] Targeting aspirational individuals, entrepreneurs, and "world changers" seeking meaningful connections, the platform has raised over $11 million in seed funding, hosted 25,000+ events, and facilitated 400,000+ connections, with strong growth in London and expansion into the UAE and Middle East.[2][5]
Locals.org was founded in London in 2021 by serial entrepreneurs Eugene Nevgen, Natalia Vodianova (a philanthropist and supermodel), Sergey Gonchar, and Timon Afinsky.[3][5] The idea emerged as a counter-trend to digital overload and the metaverse push, using online tools to drive in-person meetings and shared experiences, especially post-pandemic, while incorporating charitable donations for each event.[3][7] Early traction built quickly: by 2023-2024, it hosted 60 experiences weekly, attracted 200,000+ entrepreneurs, and secured $11 million in seed funding from investors like Goodwater Capital, TheSoul Publishing, and Oculus co-founder Michael Antonov, fueling UAE launch and Middle East ambitions.[2][5]
Locals.org rides the post-pandemic loneliness epidemic and backlash against metaverse/virtual reality dominance, positioning tech as a bridge to authentic, face-to-face interactions amid rising demand for hybrid social experiences.[3][7] Timing aligns with entrepreneurial booms in hubs like London and the UAE's "melting pot" of talent, where online networks fail to deliver real growth or community.[2][5] Market forces favoring it include monetization needs for creators (e.g., via subscriptions/events) and investor interest in "social media for good," influencing the ecosystem by proving digital platforms can drive offline impact, charitable giving, and scalable communities for niches like entrepreneurs.[1][6][8]
Locals.org is poised to dominate real-life social networking, expanding across the Middle East and beyond with its $11M war chest, leveraging UAE momentum to hit regional scale for entrepreneurs.[2][5] Trends like AI-enhanced matching, hybrid events, and creator economies will accelerate growth, potentially evolving into a global hub for passion-driven communities with integrated philanthropy. As digital fatigue grows, its influence could redefine social tech by prioritizing human connection, turning "online tools for offline bonds" into a scalable model that outpaces virtual rivals.[3][7] This directly builds on its core mission: fostering thriving, real-world networks in a disconnected world.
Locals.org was founded in 2020 by Natalia Vodianova (Co-Founder).
Key people at Locals.org.
