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Les Amis, the European app helping women form friendships, launches in New York
Les Amis, a European app designed to help women, transgender, and LGBTQ+ individuals form friendships through AI-matching, has launched in New York. Created by Anna Bilych and Oleg Pashinin in 2022, the app connects users with similar interests and offers local events. Originally from Europe, it aims to expand further across the U.S., having already launched in Austin and planning to extend to Boston and Miami soon.
Key points
- Les Amis targets women, transgender, and LGBTQ+ individuals aged 20-40 to form friendships.
- Utilizes AI for matching users based on shared interests and life stages.
- Users can participate in events like pottery classes, book clubs, and workshops.
- The app features a membership model with varying fees per city ($70/month in New York).
- As of now, there are no Les Amis events in New York, but they are anticipated to launch soon.
- The app has reached about 120,000 installs and $1 million in annual run rate.
Why it matters
- The rise of social apps reflects the growing trend of digital connection among adults in urban areas.
- Similar apps like Bumble BFF and others highlight an increasing need for alternative social networks.
- The focus on underserved groups (women, LGBTQ+) aligns with broader changes in tech to be more inclusive.
- The app's model fits into the 2025 IT trends of AI integration and subscription-based services.
Les Amis represents a growing trend in leveraging technology for social connections in urban environments, especially for marginalized groups, reflecting broader societal shifts towards inclusive networking and digital engagement.