Orbit’s Mission
Orbit is not really just an app. We’re more like an initiative with a very powerful mission: helping every university student overcome and fight loneliness. We strive to end loneliness at university.
University should be a place where there are so many people we can meet who have similar ambitions, similar hobbies, and similar backgrounds—from all over the world. There’s so much to learn from them, and there’s so much to share. Orbit’s goal is to empower every university student to do uncomfortable things that will help them make the most of their university experience.
In this case, the app exists to help people form the friendships they truly want to have. Some people are too scared to approach others. They wonder: “What if they’re creepy? What if they don’t match my vibe?” There are so many “what ifs.”
Our mission is to basically alleviate those what-ifs and reduce all the friction you feel when trying to meet someone new.
The Role of the App
I go more in-depth into this in a YouTube video I made—it’s basically our manifesto for Orbit.
I’ve seen several similar initiatives and apps that tried to focus on the same problem, but none have actually succeeded. I know it’s going to be hard to make it work, but I also know there is a way. That’s why I need everyone’s help.
Right now, we’re honestly just open to moving in whatever direction best supports our mission, as I’ve talked about earlier. The main focus is not the app itself; it’s the mission. The app is just the bridge to help people connect with each other.
We’re still figuring out how to construct that bridge. We’re almost done building it, but nothing is set in stone yet.
Learning From the Past
I’ve seen several apps launch here at this university and at others, and then fail. Either they didn’t get enough users or they weren’t useful enough. There are so many reasons things don’t work out. That’s exactly why we’re building Orbit—to directly engage with our target audience: you guys.
We want to understand you better, understand what you need, and actually solve your problems.
As an entrepreneur and a business owner, I’m just trying to find that bottom line. For that, we need to iterate, fix what isn’t working, and double down on what is.
Eventually, we’ll have a product that people love. And when people love your product, growth becomes easy. The hardest part is getting to that point—where people truly love Orbit and the community it fosters.
Human Connection as a Luxury
I strongly believe that meeting new people—talking to people you’ve never met before and getting to know them—is a luxury. It’s something everyone takes for granted, especially at university. This is your chance to talk to people with similar life goals.
I really urge you to watch the video I made—the Orbit Manifesto—because I explain exactly why I believe this mission is so important. Why this app should exist. To make it easier for people to make friends.
Learning From the Competition
I strongly believe that what’s currently in the market—like Bumble for Friends—isn’t doing it right. The way they do it just doesn’t work, in my opinion. I’m not sure what the best way is yet, but we’re on a mission to find it.
So, feedback is appreciated. If you’ve tried Bumble for Friends and struggled with it, please reach out. Help us build a better version—something that’s specifically tailored to the University of Calgary.
Safety and Comfort
Security is 100% one of our top priorities. If even one user has a bad experience—especially with how quickly things spread on social media—that’s it. If someone says, “I had a bad experience with Orbit,” everyone sees that and the app gains a bad reputation.
By making Orbit specific to university students, with university authentication, we can help people feel more comfortable doing uncomfortable things.
Doing Uncomfortable Things in Comfortable Spaces
The way to get yourself to do uncomfortable things is by being in a place where you feel very comfortable.
Let’s say you love a certain sport. While playing that sport, you feel in the zone—you feel present, alive, like the best version of yourself. It’s in those environments that doing uncomfortable things becomes easier.
So, in some way, what we’re trying to do with Orbit is help you find that place—and, more importantly, help you meet people in that place. That way, both of you are showing up as the best versions of yourselves.
This is something we’re constantly thinking about, but we need more thoughts and feedback. I’m not a psychologist—I do read psychology books and listen to podcasts—but that’s not enough. I need real, specific experiences from people.
Why I Started Orbit
The reason I started all this goes back to my first year. I used to be very shy. I was afraid to approach strangers to make friends. I didn’t know—would they want to talk to me? Am I cool enough for them? Are they cool enough for me? What if they’re boring? What if they smell bad?
All these “what ifs” stopped me from reaching out. Instead, I’d just sit alone during lunch, with no one to talk to. I didn’t have the courage to approach anyone. I just sat there, hoping someone would be brave enough to talk to me. But that never happened.
Here’s the thing: those other people sitting alone? They’re doing the same thing. They’re hoping someone else will approach them. So it’s just a bunch of people sitting alone, hoping to be approached—but no one is doing the approaching.
That’s the gap we’re trying to bridge.
People might think Orbit is just for shy, quiet people. But even people like me—who now enjoy approaching others and have no fear of doing so—still have a hard time finding the right people. I want to find friends who align with my vision and ambitions in life.
Orbit helps me find those people. People I can meet for lunch, for sports, at the gym, over coffee, or during a walk downtown.