About the project
Problem: College campuses are massive and increasingly isolating. Despite being surrounded by thousands of peers, students often struggle to find genuine friend groups without relying on awkward icebreakers or superficial, low-commitment, swipe-based social apps.
Who it helps: University students looking for authentic, small-group connections based on real compatibility, shared interests, overlapping schedules, and campus proximity.
Solution: Circle is a web app that replaces the traditional social feed with intelligent group matching. Users build a profile highlighting their major, residence hall, interests, and availability. Instead of endless swiping, our algorithm curates a "Circle", a balanced group of 4-6 students. We emphasize transparency by showing exactly why a group was matched (e.g., overlapping Tuesday free time and a shared interest in gaming), removing the friction of breaking the ice. Furthermore, Circle incentivizes users to show up to events through a karma system that allows other circle members to review each other. There are also forums for individual majors, allowing for larger discussions as needed.
Impact: Circle shrinks the campus. It moves students from “I don’t know anyone here” to “I have plans this week,” fostering real-world communities, improving student well-being, and building meaningful relationships.