4x growth in 10 months and becoming the go-to events for young professionals—Karin's journey with GenieFriends.

Welcome back to the Maven Club interview series, where we bring you invaluable insights from top business leaders to help you excel in your roles. Today, we had the privilege of sitting down with Karin, the co-founder of GenieFriends, a pioneering platform transforming community-driven gatherings through AI-enabled community management. In our interview, Karin shared her innovative approach to building meaningful connections, her journey to achieving 4x growth in just 10 months, and how GenieFriends has become the go-to events for young professionals. Here are the highlights:

Who is Karin Chan?

Karin is the co-founder of GenieFriends, a full-stack social experiences platform pioneering a new form of community-driven gatherings powered by AI-enabled community management. Her background in hospitality has provided her with a deep understanding of the importance of personalized experiences and meaningful human connections.

What Does GenieFriends Do?

What Market Problem Does She See?

• Both co-founders identified the challenge of connecting with like-minded individuals, especially for founders.

• At the same time, they noticed a tech shift where most data was based on quantitative metrics, lacking the depth of qualitative insights in developing personalized IRL experiences.

• They saw the need for a platform that could leverage AI to analyze qualitative data and create curated experiences and connections.

GenieFriends' Solutions

• Personalized Experience Platform: GenieFriends is not a marketplace but a personalized recommendation platform designed to make meaningful connections.

• AI-Powered Concierge: By utilizing generative AI, GenieFriends can analyze qualitative data to recommend relevant experiences and people, enhancing human connections.

• Vision: To offer an AI-powered personal concierge for everyone, recommending relevant experiences and people no matter where they go. GenieFriends aims to utilize technology to deepen and make connections more interactive.

How Does Karin Do Community Building?

Steps on Community Building: Understanding ICP First & Find the Right Format

• Understanding ICP: Identify the Ideal Customer Profile in terms of personality, culture, and values. This helps in signaling whether the community is a fit for potential members.

• Finding the Right Format: The format and expression of events can shift people's mindsets. GenieFriends removes traditional networking norms like business card exchanges to promote genuine, meaningful conversations.

Why Would You Start with Startup Communities?

• Founders are generally more open-minded and eager to learn, making them ideal for GenieFriends' innovative format to meet new friends and exchange ideas.

• Setting up unique events creates a different vibe, fostering stronger connections and a unique identity for GenieFriends.

• By providing a unique experience to our community members (which is different than other networking events), GenieFriends creates a distinct connection that fosters a deeper sense of belonging.

Developed a Growth Engine: 3 Wheels Engine

• Community: Attracting the right community by understanding their needs and values.

• Events: Hosting events that promote genuine interactions rather than transactional networking.

• Content: Generating content from events to reinforce the community’s values and spotlight the community.

Result

• This growth engine has proven effective, as evidenced by their 4x growth in just 10 months without any paid marketing.

• Success in 7 global cities through word-of-mouth, including Hong Kong, Singapore, Taipei, Tokyo, London, Vancouver and Shenzhen.

What Is Karin’s Secret Strength?

• Secret Strength: Community building.

  • Background in hospitality emphasizes the importance of personalized experiences.

  • Karin sees community building as the next big trend.

  • Turning community members into brand evangelists is key.

Any Books/ Inspirations That Impact You the Most?

•  Naval Ravikant:

  • Long-term mindset for building growth.

  • Emphasis on finding long-term people, not transactional relationships.

  • Importance of investing in relationships with compound interests.

• Brian Chesky (Airbnb):

  • Focus on hospitality and personalized experiences.

  • Similar ethos to Karin’s approach in community building, and transforming the traditions in hotel industry.

We hope you find Karin’s insights as inspiring as we did. Building a community is more than just gathering people; it’s about creating meaningful connections and fostering a sense of belonging. Stay tuned for more interviews and insights in the next edition of Maven Club.