How I Built Networkli: From Broken Networking Events to AI-Powered Connections

The Problem That Made Me Sick

I love networking. I love meeting great people, building real friendships, and helping others succeed through introductions. But I hated networking events.

After one event that felt like a room full of pitches, I had an epiphany: the people I needed to meet were standing 20 feet away, but we'd never connect because the event had no system for matching the right people.

The $70K/Month Business That Collapsed

Before Networkli, I was running a "passive income" business that was pulling $70K/month. Then Facebook changed their algorithm overnight. Revenue went to $0 in 30 days.

That radical pivot taught me something crucial: don't build on someone else's platform. Build something that solves a real human problem.

What I Learned at Apple

My time at Apple taught me to build products people actually want to use. Not products that look good on paper. Not products that check boxes. Products that solve real problems in ways that feel natural.

That philosophy drives everything at Networkli. The platform isn't just functional—it's brain-friendly. Built on neuroscience principles to make networking feel natural, not forced.

The Networkli Origin Story

My wife Brittany and I decided to prove something simple: technology can bring people together—not pull them apart—by helping the right people meet in the real world, for the right reasons.

We started with a hypothesis: if you could use AI to match people based on what they actually need (not random proximity or alphabetical order), you could create meaningful connections that lead to real results.

The Results: 92% Better Retention

Today, Networkli helps 500+ community leaders create meaningful connections. Our platform has achieved:

• 92% better member retention
• 87% higher engagement rates
• Communities growing from 200 to 2,000 members

The Coffee Chat Strategy

One of our biggest breakthroughs was the Coffee Chat Strategy. It's a simple, brain-friendly approach to networking that tripled member referrals for community leaders.

The strategy is based on a key insight: people don't want random introductions. They want strategic connections that help them solve specific problems.

What I Believe

Relationships aren't a "soft skill"—they're a business advantage. The best communities are built on clarity, contribution, and trust.

Scarcity is the comfort zone of mediocrity. Abundance is the playground of greatness.

What's Next

We're scaling Networkli to help 10,000+ community leaders by 2026. The mission is simple: prove that technology can solve loneliness—not cause it.

Loneliness is a $10M opportunity. Big players are betting millions on solving it. We're betting that the answer isn't more screen time—it's better connections in the real world.