Making friends as an adult can be challenging, especially after moving to a new city. Fortunately, modern technology offers solutions, with apps like Bumble For Friends, Flox, and Timeleft helping people form new connections quickly. Among these, Les Amis stands out by focusing on women, transgender, and LGBTQ+ individuals, primarily targeting those in their mid-20s to early 40s.
Les Amis uses AI to match users with similar interests and encourages participation in local events such as pottery classes, book clubs, wine tastings, and Pilates. The app was founded in 2022 by Anna Bilych, a former PayPal employee, and Oleg Pashinin, who previously worked at Google AI. The idea came from Bilych’s personal struggle to rebuild her social circle after relocating.
Originally launched in Europe, Les Amis is now expanding into the U.S. market, with New York being its latest rollout earlier this month. The name, meaning “friends” in French, reflects its mission to help users connect with like-minded people nearby.
The app functions similarly to dating platforms, allowing users to create profiles with photos, bios, and selected interests like poetry, gardening, yoga, or martial arts. An AI assistant named “Amis” facilitates the matching process, pairing users every two weeks based on shared interests and life stages—whether they’re single, married, parents, new to town, or seeking professional networking.
Matches are determined on Mondays, giving users time to chat and plan meetups later in the week. The app also features an explore page where users can sign up for local events, workshops, and social gatherings. Recently, Les Amis introduced “Trips,” enabling group travel to destinations like Morocco, Iceland, and the Amalfi Coast.
Les Amis operates on a membership model with fees varying by city—$70 per month in New York and €55 in Amsterdam. Membership includes a flexible credit system for attending events, usable in any city where the app is available.
Currently, the app is accessible on iOS and Android across Europe, including Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Madrid, Milan, Munich, Paris, and Stockholm. In the U.S., it launched in Austin last May and recently in New York, with plans to expand to Boston, Washington, D.C., Miami, and Los Angeles soon.
While no events are currently active in New York, they are set to begin on August 25. The app is still in the application acceptance phase, having received over 2,000 applications from New York users.
To date, Les Amis has seen around 120,000 installs, with approximately 30,000 women attending events. The company reports reaching an annual run rate of $1 million, signaling steady growth in its mission to foster meaningful connections.