About ClubsNearby
We're rebuilding the fabric of community, one gathering at a time. By connecting neighbors who want to teach with neighbors who want to learn, we're creating something the internet alone never could: real human connection.
Our Mission
We believe that everyone has something to share and something to discover in people just around the corner. ClubsNearby makes it easy to find passionate neighbors who want to teach what they love — and to share your own knowledge with others eager to learn.
In an age of isolation, we're building bridges — between generations, backgrounds, and perspectives — through the simple act of gathering together.
“Deciding how to get the right alloy here is not a technological problem. We do know how to use virtual community to enhance real community. It's a business model problem.”
A Business Model for Community
Robert Putnam is right: the challenge isn't technology — it's building a business that actually serves community rather than extracting from it. That's why we've made three foundational commitments:
Stakeholder-First
Our business model is designed for the benefit of all stakeholders — hosts, attendees, and the communities we serve. Not just shareholders. Every decision we make must create value for the people who use ClubsNearby.
Community-Funded Only
We will never raise money from anyone other than community members. No venture capital, no private equity, no outside investors with misaligned incentives. If we ever need capital, it will come from the people who believe in what we're building.
Never for Sale
We will never sell this company just to realize a profit. Nearby exists to serve communities for generations, not to enrich founders or investors through an exit. We're building an institution, not a startup.
Bright Patterns, Not Dark Ones
The tech industry has a playbook for growth: fake urgency, guilt-trip notifications, hidden fees, and interfaces designed to make cancellation hard. These are dark patterns — design that works against you to benefit the platform.
We optimize for the opposite. Bright patterns are design decisions that genuinely serve you: transparent pricing with no surprises, notifications you actually want, easy ways to reduce or stop activity, and interfaces that respect your time and attention. Every design choice we make should leave you feeling respected — not manipulated.
This isn't just an ethical stance. It's structural. When our business model depends on people continuing to show up in real life — not on maximizing screen time or engagement metrics — our incentives stay aligned with yours.
How It Works
Discover
Browse classes and gatherings across Berkeley and the East Bay — or search for something specific.
Connect
RSVP to a gathering, message the host, or join a recurring group.
Show Up
Attend in person. Meet your neighbors. Build something real.
Host
Start a gathering of any kind — classes, walks, dinners, jams — and invite your neighbors.
We're not just building a platform. We're rebuilding what it means to be neighbors in a disconnected world.
Ready to show up?
Find a gathering this week — or host one yourself.