What Lunchclub does

Lunchclub, operated by Elliot Technologies, Inc. and doing business as Lunchclub, is a private US-based software company that uses machine learning to facilitate one-on-one professional introductions through video meetings. The platform matches users based on shared interests, goals, and (on mobile) location, and refines match quality through a weekly user feedback loop. The core product is a web application at lunchclub.com, supplemented by an iOS app distributed through the Apple App Store; users authenticate primarily via Google OAuth, which provides profile, contact, and calendar data used to inform matches.

The underlying technology stack centers on a recommendation engine that ingests user profile attributes and external signals (Google-sourced contacts, calendar metadata) to generate curated matches. A dedicated Head of Machine Learning role (André Röhrig) and the founders' technical positioning indicate the matching algorithm is treated as a core asset, though no benchmarks, patents, or published research substantiate a defensible technical lead. The platform is positioned as an alternative to LinkedIn's open-network model, emphasizing structured, facilitated introductions over self-directed connection requests.

The go-to-market is a self-serve, product-led model with no publicly disclosed pricing tiers. Source material explicitly states monetization details are not publicly disclosed, and the offering appears to be free at the point of use, consistent with a freemium or pre-monetization posture. The target user base spans working professionals broadly and remote workers specifically, served through horizontal segmentation. Lunchclub is incorporated in Delaware, lists a Miami, FL mailing address, and has raised approximately $28.8M across seed and Series 1-2 rounds between 2017 and 2020 from investors including Andreessen Horowitz, Coatue, and Lightspeed Venture Partners.

Name

Lunchclub

Legal name

Elliot Technologies, Inc.

Website

https://lunchclub.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Lunchclub is a private US software company (Elliot Technologies, Inc.) that uses machine learning to match professionals for one-on-one video meetings, serving working professionals and remote workers through a self-serve web and iOS platform with Google-authenticated onboarding.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Platform Services: Lunchclub provides professional networking services with a free core offering. The platform facilitates connections between professionals through AI-matched meetings. Revenue appears to be derived from potential premium features or freemium upsell opportunities, though specific monetization details are not publicly disclosed.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Lunchclub is an AI-powered professional networking platform that facilitates one-on-one video meetings between users based on shared interests, goals, and location. The platform uses a proprietary machine learning matching algorithm that curates meaningful professional introductions and improves match quality each week based on user feedback. Users access the service via the web at lunchclub.com or through an iOS mobile app, authenticating primarily through Google OAuth.

Product overview

Lunchclub is a unified AI-powered professional networking platform operated by Elliot Technologies, Inc. The core platform facilitates casual conversations that lead to professional connections using machine learning algorithms. The main platform is accessible via web at lunchclub.com, with a companion iOS mobile application available on the App Store. Users authenticate primarily through Google OAuth, and the system continuously learns from weekly user feedback to improve connection quality.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lunchclub Platform
• Lunchclub iOS App

Quantifiable outcome

• Improved match quality through weekly user feedback loops

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability3 records

Feature2 records

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Shapr: Shapr is a mobile-first professional networking app that uses swipe-based matching (similar in spirit to dating apps) to suggest daily introductions between professionals. It is the closest direct competitor to Lunchclub in the AI/probabilistic matching-for-networking category.
• Bumble Bizz: Bumble Bizz extends Bumble's swipe-matching mechanic to professional networking. It targets the same user pain point — friction in finding relevant professional contacts — and competes head-to-head with Lunchclub for users seeking an alternative to LinkedIn's open-network model.
• Alignable: Alignable is a small-business professional networking platform with millions of members. It competes with Lunchclub for users seeking curated, purpose-driven professional connections, particularly among entrepreneurs and SMB owners.
• Meetup: Meetup facilitates interest-based group networking, often in-person. While its primary mode is events rather than 1:1 AI matching, it competes for the same user intent — building meaningful professional relationships outside of LinkedIn.

Broad incumbents

• LinkedIn: LinkedIn is the dominant incumbent in professional networking with hundreds of millions of users and integrated recruiting, content, and sales tooling. Lunchclub explicitly positions against LinkedIn's open-network model with curated AI matching.

Emerging players

• Intro.ai: Intro is an AI-powered platform that helps professionals and founders make warm introductions through extended networks. It overlaps with Lunchclub's intent (curated 1:1 professional connections) and uses AI/ML to surface relevant intros.
• Clay: Clay is a relationship-management and networking tool that aggregates contacts, notes, and interactions to help users maintain and act on professional relationships. It addresses an adjacent but overlapping problem space (managing and activating one's network) compared to Lunchclub's matching layer.

Others

• Lunchclub (self-reference noted — see also Riverside) Riverside.fm: Riverside provides remote video recording/streaming infrastructure that is complementary to Lunchclub's video-meeting use case. While not a direct competitor, it serves the same end-user workflow of high-quality remote professional video interactions.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/lunchclubai
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lunchclub
• Instagraminstagram.com/lunchclubai
• Facebookfacebook.com/lunchclubai

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors18 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lunchclub