Bonobos Founder Launches Pie App to Combat Loneliness

Andy Dunn, the founder of the direct-to-consumer menswear label Bonobos, has launched Pie, a new app aimed at addressing the "loneliness epidemic" in America. A 2024 Harvard survey indicated that over a fifth of the US population reports feeling isolated, with 73% identifying technology as a contributing factor to this issue. Dunn's app, Pie, seeks to leverage technology as a solution by facilitating the formation of real-life friendships.

The Pie app helps users discover local events and employs an algorithm to suggest individuals with whom they are likely to connect. The venture has secured $11.5 million in Series A funding, with Forerunner Ventures, an early investor in Bonobos, leading the round. Dunn has been testing the app in Chicago and Austin and is now preparing for a nationwide rollout. The company has also appointed Nadya Okamoto, founder of the period care brand August, as its co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer. Pie currently boasts 300,000 active users.

Dunn, who co-founded Bonobos with Brian Spaly in 2007 and later sold it to Walmart for $310 million in 2017, is transitioning from pioneering the direct-to-consumer model in fashion to tackling social connection challenges. Bonobos, known for its men's trousers, raised $127 million in funding and experienced significant growth through its website and physical stores. After the acquisition, Dunn contributed to managing Walmart's digital brands. He now believes that addressing fundamental human needs like friendship is a more pressing concern than consumer product innovation.