From Marketing Exec to Friend-Finding Founder: Sabrina Gendler & Friendly (Ep. 110)
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EPISODE · May 21, 2026 · 51 MIN

From Marketing Exec to Friend-Finding Founder: Sabrina Gendler & Friendly (Ep. 110)

from My Great Pivot · host The Female Founders Project

Sabina Gendler, CEO and co-founder of Friendly, traces the idea for her startup to a job relocation. The marketing exec was eager to make new friends locally – especially during her maternity leave – but found no easy way of doing so. Her solution? Friendly, an app that connects women who share common values, are in the same stage of life, and live within a two-mile radius. Sabina realized that just identifying potential new friends didn’t solve the problem: people need help planning meet-ups, or more often than not, they'll never happen. Friendly does all the heavy lifting, recommending a time and local place/event that suits their schedules and common interests. In the interview, Sabina reveals how she and her co-founder decided to partner, how they tested the idea for Friendly in a low-cost, low-tech way, and why they chose to focus on building female friendships first during this early stage.Links: Friendly: www.friendly-app.comMy Great Pivot podcast: www.mygreatpivot.comTakeawaysFinding great startup ideas from real-life experienceRecuiting a business partnerTesting a concept before buildingLaunching an appEvolving a conceptUser safety and trustThe logic behind a subscription-based business modelChapters00:00 The Birth of Friendly05:50 The Evolution of Friendly's Concept16:42 The Power of a Strong Team22:46 Ensuring Safety and Privacy30:27 User Onboarding and Information37:07 Secret Circles and Safety43:51 Focus on Women's Safety and Trust#startup #femalefounders #womenintech #lonelinessepidemic #femaleentrepreneurship

Sabina Gendler, CEO and co-founder of Friendly, traces the idea for her startup to a job relocation. The marketing exec was eager to make new friends locally – especially during her maternity leave – but found no easy way of doing so. Her solution? Friendly, an app that connects women who share common values, are in the same stage of life, and live within a two-mile radius. Sabina realized that just identifying potential new friends didn’t solve the problem: people need help planning meet-ups, or more often than not, they'll never happen. Friendly does all the heavy lifting, recommending a time and local place/event that suits their schedules and common interests. In the interview, Sabina reveals how she and her co-founder decided to partner, how they tested the idea for Friendly in a low-cost, low-tech way, and why they chose to focus on building female friendships first during this early stage.Links: Friendly: www.friendly-app.comMy Great Pivot podcast: www.mygreatpivot.comTakeawaysFinding great startup ideas from real-life experienceRecuiting a business partnerTesting a concept before buildingLaunching an appEvolving a conceptUser safety and trustThe logic behind a subscription-based business modelChapters00:00 The Birth of Friendly05:50 The Evolution of Friendly's Concept16:42 The Power of a Strong Team22:46 Ensuring Safety and Privacy30:27 User Onboarding and Information37:07 Secret Circles and Safety43:51 Focus on Women's Safety and Trust#startup #femalefounders #womenintech #lonelinessepidemic #femaleentrepreneurship

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From Marketing Exec to Friend-Finding Founder: Sabrina Gendler & Friendly (Ep. 110)

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This episode was published on May 21, 2026.

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Sabina Gendler, CEO and co-founder of Friendly, traces the idea for her startup to a job relocation. The marketing exec was eager to make new friends locally – especially during her maternity leave – but found no easy way of doing so. Her solution?...

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