Ville, an in-person-first social app, is positioning itself as an antidote to traditional social media for younger users who are more interested in real-world connection than endless scrolling. Based in Denver, the app helps people discover nearby events, connect with others and participate in local communities without follower counts or infinite feeds.
The company points to a growing dissatisfaction with social platforms among Gen Z in the years following the pandemic, as more young adults look for offline ways to build community. In an online U.S. survey of 1,006 Gen Z adults (ages 18–27) fielded August 8–15, 2024 by The Harris Poll in collaboration with Jonathan Haidt’s research team, 40% agreed with the statement that they wish social media had never been invented.
Ville’s mission is to use technology to connect people in person, organically, as an alternative to traditional social media. Since Q4 2024, the app has been supporting locals in their search for in-person community and partnering with community organizers to create opportunities for people to meet up in real life.
The product is designed around recurring events and the idea of third places as settings for organic connection. “When you see the same community every week, people start to recognize you. You become part of something simply by showing up; it’s really that simple. The technology that helps you do that should be simple too,” said Ville founder Daniel Meese.
Third places, described as spots where people show up regularly and interact organically, have been a focus of conversation about community for years. In a national survey of 6,061 U.S. adults (18+) designed and conducted by the American Enterprise Institute’s Survey Center on American Life, fielded March 10–28, 2025, 72% of Americans who regularly run into people they know at their third place say they live in a “tight-knit community.”
Ville’s members are leaning into that idea with the app’s new Vibe feature, which lets them instantly notify their connections about what they feel like doing together, for example “I feel like dancing,” along with a countdown so friends do not miss the moment. “Based on early user feedback, people go out more when their friends can see their Vibe, because it signals what they’re up for,” said Meese.
The app is available for free on iOS and Android. Beyond Vibe, Ville includes tools aimed at simplifying in-person logistics. Users can find nearby events and use the “Chip In” feature to request items and sign up to bring them to gatherings. They can ask questions in the group chat without swapping phone numbers, add plans to their phone’s calendar in one tap and get directions in one tap. Ville positions itself as “an unconventional social app bringing back the tradition of in-person community” for people who want to meet and connect in real life.