This website was created by Paolo Mura, a software engineer and recent graduate from the University of Bristol.
I first came up with the idea in response to some of the common problems with dating apps:
Safety - you have no way to really trust a person via their profile
Compatibility - a few pictures and text prompts aren't enough to gauge whether two people will get along
Gender ratio - it's no secret that there's a gender imbalance on dating apps
Dehumanising - swiping through profiles is not a natural way to meet people
Conversations with friends suggested that house parties are the ideal scenario for meeting new people. They certainly fix many of the problems above, however they are prone to being let down by cliques. In other words, large groups of friends tend to just hang out with each other at these events, lowering the chances of meeting anyone new, despite this seeming to be the "perfect" environment.
Nexus solves these problems by allowing users to create events and invite two friends who don't know each other very well (if they know each other at all). They then invite their friends, and so on.
Ultimately this creates the following scenario:
Safety - everyone at the event is connected to each other via a chain of mutual friends: mutual trust
Compatibility - since everyone has mutual friends, they're all likely to get along and have things in common
Diversity - guests are encouraged to consider diversity when inviting their friends
Natural - what's a more natural way of meeting someone new than an introduction through a mutual friend?
Opportunity - most people at the event are going to be new to each other, so there's plenty of scope to make new friends
Comfort - you're guaranteed to know at least a few other people at the event, helping you to feel at ease
I soon realised that Nexus can be used for so much more than dating, from meeting new friends to expanding your professional network.
I have ambitious plans to improve Nexus. Obviously a mobile app is on the horizon. But there are many new features, upgrades and fixes that will be introduced along the way.
If you have any suggestions, don't hesitate to get in touch! I'd love to hear your feedback, so head to our Help center to leave your thoughts.
Images used under license from Shutterstock.com