Hi, I’m F!
The Founder
“Building something at 2 a.m. Looking for a co-founder, a first hire, or just someone who gets it.”
Founders & startups✨ Coming soon · early access openSame room.
Same room.
Mutual yes.
A private way to meet someone already at your coworking space, conference, campus or café. Networking, hiring, founders, a collaboration, a conversation, or something personal. Nothing is shared until you both agree.
Coming soon. 18+ only.
2083 people are already in the queue.
Join them and we’ll ping you before launch.
Join them and we’ll ping you before launch.
How it works
From the same room to a real introduction
A short, private step between people who are actually there — a founder after a talk, a recruiter on campus, or someone at the next table.
You are already there
A meetup, a campus, an office or a café. Someone in the room is worth a proper introduction.
Check in at your place
Go Available at that exact spot and choose why you are open: work, ideas, a conversation, or something personal.
Join the room
Drop into a live audio conversation at the spot, or stay quiet and just see who else checked in.
Post on the 15-minute wall
A short note that disappears after 15 minutes. Useful for “looking for a designer” as much as “new here”.
Connect if you both agree
Names and photos stay hidden until both people say yes. A pass reveals nothing.
Meet the crew
Which one are you?
Founders, recruiters, collaborators and people who simply like a good conversation. Here are a few you might already be sharing a room with.
Hi, I’m N!
The Networker
“Let’s swap LinkedIns, or just stories. Every coffee is a chance to meet someone great.”
Professional networking
Hi, I’m T!
The Tea-time Recruiter
“Hiring for my team, and I’d rather meet you over chai than a cold email.”
Hiring & careers
Hi, I’m Z!
The Zoomer
“Zipping between meetings on my scooter. Hop on for a quick chai and a big idea?”
Business opportunitiesHi, I’m I!
The Illustrator
“I doodle everyone I meet. Say hi and you might end up in my sketchbook.”
Collaboration
Hi, I’m @!
The Always-Online
“Terminally online, trying to touch grass. Let’s turn a DM into a real chai.”
Professional networkingHi, I’m A!
The Chai Philosopher
“One cutting chai and I’ll talk about anything, from startups to the stars. Looking for someone to disagree with, nicely.”
Casual conversation
Hi, I’m E!
The Foodie Explorer
“I like tasting new things in the city, but not alone. Momos, biryani, that new dessert place: you in?”
Dating & personalYour sticker, your DP
Type your name, meet your buddy
Every letter, plus a few special symbols, has its own character. Pick yours as a profile picture or sticker in the app, or tap any buddy to try them on.
“I like tasting new things in the city, but not alone. Momos, biryani, that new dessert place: you in?”
Why SoNearby
Built for real moments, not endless feeds
You were already in the room
SoNearby starts where you already are: a coworking space, a conference, a campus, a client office or a café. You noticed a founder, a recruiter, a collaborator, or simply someone worth meeting. The app helps you find out, privately, whether they are open.
Invisible by default
No public profiles, no “people nearby” list to scroll. You only become discoverable when you choose to Go Available at a real place, for a time you pick.
Mutual consent before any reveal
Photos and names are revealed only when both people say yes. Ignoring an invitation reveals nothing about you.
Never your exact location
Others see a place name and an optional landmark such as “near Gate 3”. Never your GPS position, never the distance between you, never live movement.
A mystery, not a feed
There is no profile browse and no swipe. A few structured clues, such as where someone is sitting, help the right two people find each other without exposing anyone else.
Live at the spot
Check in at a coworking space, campus, conference or café and see what is happening there: drop-in audio rooms, a 15-minute wall, and conversations you can join in one tap.
15-minute wall & live rooms
Post short, ephemeral messages that vanish after 15 minutes and join live audio rooms for spontaneous conversation.
Aura, streaks and passport
Earn Aura points for check-ins, time spent in rooms and good-vibe kudos. Build a passport of places and keep streaks.
You choose why you are open
Each session you pick what you are here for: professional networking, founders, hiring, business, collaboration, a conversation, or something personal. People only meet others who chose the same.
Verified phone login, 18+ only
Every account signs in with an OTP-verified mobile number and must be 18 or older. Block and report are always one tap away.
Free for everyone
SoNearby is free to download and free to use. There are no paid plans, no ads and nothing to unlock.
What you are open to
Dating is one choice, not the assumption. Every time you go available you pick one or more:
- Professional networking
- Founders & startups
- Hiring & careers
- Business opportunities
- Collaboration
- Casual conversation
- Dating & personal
Compared with dating apps
The alternative to Tinder, Happn, Bumble and Hinge
SoNearby is the consent-first alternative to Tinder, Happn, Bumble and Hinge for two people already in the same place. It has no swipe feed and no public list of people nearby. A name or photo is shown only after both people say yes. Dating is one reason to be open. Networking, hiring, founders, business, collaboration and a conversation are the others.
| SoNearby | Tinder, Bumble, Hinge | Happn | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starts from | You are already at the place | A feed of profiles within a distance | People whose paths crossed yours |
| Browse or swipe | No public list and no swipe | Yes. Swiping profiles is the product | Yes. You browse the people you crossed |
| Exact location and distance | Never shown. Only the place name | Distance is how people are discovered | Crossings are built from where you have been |
| When a name or photo appears | Only after both say yes | The profile is visible before a match | The profile is visible in the crossing list |
| If you ignore it | They never find out | The profile was already public in the feed | Crossings stay on a list either person can open |
| Only for dating? | No. You choose the reason each time | Dating is the product. Bumble also has friend and business modes, still as a swipe | Dating |
| While you are still there | Check in, live audio that is never recorded, a wall that lasts 15 minutes | The conversation happens in the app, away from the place | The crossing has already happened |
| Price for people | Free. No ads and no paid plans | Free to start, with paid subscriptions and boosts | Free to start, with paid features |
When people are there
Show up when the room is full
When the room is actually full
Weekday afternoons at coworking spaces and campuses, and Friday evenings at partner venues. Save a time and we will nudge you before people start arriving.
Hosted rooms, including a welcome
Partner venues run live rooms for meetups, launches and open evenings, with a “New here?” room so a first visit is straightforward.
Come with your team
Start a group with colleagues or friends anywhere in India, even before SoNearby opens in your city, then bring them when it does.
Cities
Live now, and unlocking next
SoNearby opens one city at a time, so there are always people at the spots. Every early-access sign-up moves your city up the list.
Live now: Indore and Bhopal
For businesses
Host a hotspot
Cafés, campuses, launches and festivals can request a paid SoNearby hotspot. We take the company, the event, the reason, and the date and duration, then review it before it goes live.
Request a hotspotSafety
Designed so nobody is exposed
SoNearby is 18+ and every account is tied to an OTP-verified mobile number. You are invisible until you choose to Go Available, and you can stop anytime.
- Block and report anyone, anytime.
- A cooldown after someone says no, so nobody gets pestered.
- Clues are structured choices, never free-text descriptions of someone’s body.
- No sensitive attributes like religion, caste or health are ever asked for or shown.
- Delete your account and data from inside the app.
Be ready on launch day
Campuses, offices and cafés are already on the list. Sign up and we will tell you when your city opens.
At a glance
SoNearby in one minute
- What it is
- The consent-first alternative to Tinder, Happn, Bumble and Hinge, for people already in the same place
- Made for
- A private, consent-first mobile experience
- Platforms
- Android and iPhone (coming soon)
- Age
- 18+ with an OTP-verified mobile number
- Privacy
- Invisible by default, no public profiles, never exact location
- Intents
- Professional networking, Founders & startups, Hiring & careers, Business opportunities, Collaboration, Casual conversation, Dating & personal
FAQ
Questions people ask about SoNearby
What is SoNearby?
SoNearby is the consent-first alternative to Tinder, Happn, Bumble and Hinge for people already in the same real place: a coworking space, conference, campus, café, event or airport. You choose why you are open, from professional networking and hiring to a conversation or something personal. There is no swipe feed and no public list of people nearby. You are invisible by default, and a name or photo is shown only after both people agree.
Is SoNearby only for dating?
No. Dating is one option among several, and it is never assumed. Each time you go available you choose professional networking, founders and startups, hiring, business, collaboration, casual conversation, something personal, or more than one. You only meet people who picked the same intent.
How is SoNearby different from Tinder, Happn, Bumble or Hinge?
Tinder, Bumble and Hinge show a feed of profiles to swipe. Happn lists people whose paths crossed yours. SoNearby is the alternative in that set with no feed and no crossing list. It only works when two people are already at the same real place. Dating is one reason to be open. Networking, hiring, founders and a conversation are the others. A name or photo is shown only after both agree. The full comparison is at https://sonearby.com/compare/.
What is a good alternative to Tinder in India?
SoNearby is a consent-first alternative to Tinder for people already in the same real place. There is no swipe feed. You choose why you are open, including dating, networking, hiring, founders or a conversation, and a name or photo appears only after both people say yes. It is free, for adults 18 and over, and opening first in Indore and Bhopal.
What is an app like Happn that does not list people nearby?
SoNearby. Happn lists people whose paths crossed. SoNearby has no nearby list and no crossing list. You are invisible until you go available at a place, other people never see your exact location, and ignoring a hello tells the other person nothing.
Which app should I use if I already noticed someone?
SoNearby is built for that moment. You were already there. Structured clues identify the right person without a browse of faces. If they are open and you both say yes, you can talk. If they ignore it, they never find out you asked.
Is there a dating app without swiping?
SoNearby has no swipe and no profile feed. Dating is one reason you can be open, not the default. The other reasons are professional networking, founders, hiring, business, collaboration and casual conversation. A hello happens only if both people agree.
Is SoNearby safe for women?
SoNearby is designed so women stay in control: you are invisible unless you choose to Go Available, nobody can see your exact location, you can ignore invitations without the other person knowing, and you can block or report in one tap. SoNearby is free for everyone.
Does SoNearby share my location?
No exact location is ever shared. When you Go Available, other people only see the place name (for example a café or an airport) and an optional landmark you type. SoNearby never shows your GPS position, the distance between users, or your movement.
Is SoNearby free?
Yes. SoNearby is free to download and free to use, with no paid plans, in-app purchases or ads.
Where is SoNearby available?
SoNearby opens city by city, starting with Indore and Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh. Every other city has a waitlist: pick your city when you sign up for early access, and once enough people are waiting there it unlocks and everyone on the list hears first. Inviting friends gets your city there sooner.
What are SoNearby Nights?
Hosted times at partner venues, including Friday evenings and weekday sessions at coworking spaces and campuses. Live audio rooms and a welcome room for people who are new. Tap “I’m in” on one in the app and we remind you an hour before it starts.
When can I download SoNearby on Android and iPhone?
SoNearby is coming soon to the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. The download links on sonearby.com will go live on launch day.
Can I use SoNearby for networking and not dating?
Yes. That is a primary use. Each time you Go Available you choose professional networking, founders and startups, business, hiring, collaboration, casual conversation, or something personal. Leave dating off and you will not be matched on it.
Who can use SoNearby?
Anyone 18 or older with a mobile number. Sign-in uses a one-time password sent by SMS, so every account is tied to a verified phone number.
What does “SoNearby” mean?
So nearby: the person you already noticed is right here. You were in the same place as someone, a speaker, a founder, a classmate, or a person across the café, and you want a private way to find out whether they are open, with their consent.