Online site aims to foster offline links
IN AN era awash with dating websites it is refreshing to find an online play that has facilitating friendship as its core raison d’etre.
Chirpy Plus is the brainchild of Carol and Shaun Mahoney, a mother-and-son team who joined forces six years ago.
The pair spied an opportunity to help prevent loneliness and social isolation in people aged over 55 and developed an online platform that offers a safe, moderated environment designed to facilitate offline introductions, networks and friendships.
They are no newcomers to the business or technological worlds having previously launched successful start-ups and helmed large companies.
Carol Mahony was one of the first female CTOs in New Zealand for 3M and later held the same role at Fisher & Paykel.
Shaun’s background is in banking and finance. He was a top banking professional in the US for 14 years before returning to Australia in 2010.
Chirpy Plus is actually the third start-up they have done together. The first was ULetters in 2015, where they developed an email system partnered with Mailchimp, followed by the creation of a small business referral site in 2017 designed to help small businesses grow.
It was the technology of the latter site that supported the development of Chirpy Plus.
But there was a personal motivation too.
In 2013 Shaun suffered a significant injury and following nearly a year in hospital undergoing multiple neurosurgical operations, the first seeds of Chirpy Plus were planted.
“Despite being digitally connected, it was the lack of real human social interaction that was taking its toll on me,” he said.
“Discussing the idea with Carol, we knew that we could take the digital environment and turn it into a real-life setting, thereby making a true difference in people’s lives.”
It is an irony of the technological age, where people are more connected than ever before, that loneliness seems to be growing.
“We have become a lot busier compared to 15 to 20 years ago. It has become more challenging to find the time to build friendships that benefit our health and lifestyle,” Shaun said.
“We see technology as a way to keep in touch but in reality we still need face-toface communication.”
After investing $750,000 of their own money, Chirpy Plus was launched in November 2018. It has more than 20,000 members across Australia and New Zealand who use features of the web-based platform such as Chirpy-hosted catch-up groups and other forums for people interested in topics such as travel, health and news.
Catch-ups are curated for members’ safety, enabling them to connect with likeminded people in the real world.
The site works through a subscription model where members pay $8 a month to be connected.
Shaun said the fees ensure they do not need advertising and members all share in the knowledge they have all invested in making new social connections.
Future plans include a Chirpy app (to be launched in the next 60 days) and launching into new markets including the UK and US.
WE SEE TECHNOLOGY AS A WAY TO KEEP IN TOUCH BUT IN REALITY WE STILL NEED FACE-TOFACE COMMUNICATION.
SHAUN MAHONEY