UCC entrepreneurs launch café meet-up app to combat student loneliness

Two University College Cork students and young entrepreneurs have launched a new coffee meet-up online platform to help combat the issue of student loneliness.

Third-year students Aaron O’Sullivan and Dylan Hegarty set up the BrewBuddy app and website, a social platform built to help students connect with people around them by arranging daytime meet-ups at Cork coffee shops.

The meet-ups take place in public settings during normal business hours, ensuring a safe environment.

Users on the BrewBuddy platform can browse upcoming coffee meet-ups or create their own in any café at an agreed time.

The message when you open up the website reads: “Meet over coffee, not screens”, encapsulating the ethos behind the initiative.

“Ditch the endless scrolling. Join real meet-ups at Cork’s local coffee shops and make connections that matter,” it adds.

Mr O’Sullivan told The Echo they had been working on the concept for a year before going live.

“From our research, it is clear there is an obvious loneliness epidemic in Ireland, especially among young people and students,” he said.

“People are not connecting as much, and they’re on their phones.

“So our mission is to get students off the phones and encourage them to meet in person, increase connections and help people make new friends.

“It is also a great way to expand friend groups and network.”

Mr O’Sullivan added that initial feedback for the platform has been very positive over the weeks leading up to its official launch on Monday.

“As college students ourselves, we know how difficult it can be meeting new people,” he said.

“We spoke to students, particularly international ones in their first year, they were saying they arrived here and didn’t know anyone.”

“If we can help just a few people settle in better to college, that will be great.”

• For more information about the platform and to sign up, visit brewbuddy.ie.