Frequently Asked Questions
About Project Bridget
Is Bridget a dating app? How is it different from existing apps?
Bridget is unlike any other existing app.
- Not just friendship or dating—people seek out other people for many different reasons. Bridget’s technology is flexible enough to facilitate introductions for any intentional relationship: community building, hobby meetups, new friendships, and, yes, dating, if users desire.
Privacy-protecting, real-life connection—encourages real-world meetups while protecting privacy. Unlike most social apps, every user is identity-verified to deter scammers. At the same time, every user can choose how much of their profile to make visible to specific groups or individuals.
Robust, nuanced psychometric matching—uses AI and research-driven behavioral science to suggest new connections who truly “click” beyond sharing demographics or hobbies, streamlining friendship formation.
- Built for bridging—Gives users the option of meeting others who are both similar and different to help us break down silos. Connect across generations, across the aisle, and with people from all walks of life. (Hence our name, Project “Bridge-It”!)
Personalized assistance—offers individualized tips on how to start and nurture relationships.
- Automated group creation—uses AI to bring together groups of people based on shared social intents.
- People first, not profit—we count success as increasing users’ IRL social connections, not maximizing their time and money on our platform.
Why is there a need for Bridget?
We need better tools for finding and maintaining “in real life” social connections. Consider the following data:
- One in three Americans self-report that they feel chronically lonely, with the rates even higher among young adults ages 18-24 (58%) and single people (49%) (Project Bridget National Survey, 2024)
- 12% of Americans do not have a single friend (American Survey Center, 2021)
- Fewer than half of Gen Z feel connected to their fellow Americans and local communities (Pew Research Center, 2024)
- 72% of Gen Z say they feel more comfortable online than in person (Morning Consult, 2023)
Why is social connection important?
- An increased sense of one’s agency, decision-making capacity, and motivation
- Longer lifespans and improved outcomes across more than 30 mental and physical health measures
- Greater economic mobility
- Larger pool of romantic prospects
- Increased civic participation and trust
The research shows that social disconnection isn’t just a personal burden–its occurrence on a mass scale has major implications for public health, economic productivity, and civic functioning. Conversely, strong social connections are essential to people’s sense of personal agency to effect positive change for themselves and their greater community. To explore more of this research, contact us for a copy of Project Bridget’s white paper.
How much demand is there for Bridget?
A lot! According to our product demand survey of +500 people across the U.S.:
- Nearly half—48%—said they were likely or very likely to use Bridget, translating to a potential user population of 129 million
- Interest levels are relatively higher among those who self-report feeling lonely (61%), and people who are ages 25-44 (59%), ethnic minorities (52%), and women (51%)
Which stage of development is Bridget in?
We’re in the pre-launch phase. We’re building what we call a “minimum lovable product”—a thoughtfully designed app that helps people find and nurture meaningful connections.
When is Bridget launching?
We don’t have a fixed launch date yet. Your engagement helps us to get there faster. Show your support by signing up for early access. If our vision speaks to you, please consider making a donation.
Why is Project Bridget a non-profit?
We recognize and share in skepticism around giving personal data to companies so they can make money from it via fees, advertising, and AI training. Based on our survey data, being a non-profit that swears off the use and sale of data for generating profit broadens our potential user base by more than 4x, allowing us to pursue our mission more effectively. 86% of likely users express willingness to donate on a monthly basis to sustain Bridget’s nonprofit services.
Donations & Impact
Why should I donate to Project Bridget?
Unlike single-issue donations, Project Bridget is a one-stop catalyst for benefits across numerous areas. Your donation not only helps us tackle social disconnection—recent research has found that social connection boosts people’s economic, romantic and family building prospects, civic engagement, and health across dozens of measures. Request our white paper via Contact Us for a deep dive into the research informing Project Bridget.
How would Project Bridget use my donation?
Right now, donations fund three key areas:
- Legal formation: Incorporating as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit
- Product development: Building our first usable, lovable version of the Bridget app
- User acquisition: Reaching people who need Bridget the most
Is my donation tax-deductible?
Not yet. Our 501(c)(3) application is pending IRS review. If your donation becomes retroactively tax-deductible, we’ll notify you.
How would I know my donation’s impact?
We share regular updates with all donors. In the early stages, you’ll hear about our progress toward launch. After launch, we’ll provide impact reports with metrics like:
- Users acquired and retained
- “In real life” connections made
- Changes in users’ self-reported social connection and well-being
- Users’ match quality scores
How does Project Bridget raise money?
Volunteering
Why should I volunteer with Project Bridget?
If you care about finding ways to increase mutual understanding and civic trust, or using tech for good, volunteering with Bridget is a meaningful way to contribute. You’ll be part of a passionate, forward-thinking team applying technology to one of today’s most urgent social needs. Contact us to discuss how we might work together.
How much of a time commitment is volunteering with Project Bridget?
We’re flexible! Some volunteers contribute just a few hours per month; others take on bigger projects. Let us know your skills and availability, and we’ll find the right fit.
Still have questions?
Please get in touch, we’d love to hear from you.
