Tell us about you
A short, conversational intake: your intent, your energy, what you're looking for this season. No profiles, no swiping.
Now gathering in Buenos Aires
The weekly gatherings that turn strangers into friends.
Ponyo matches you into a small group that meets again and again. We pick the place, bring a host, and handle the details. All you do is show up.
We're not here to fix loneliness. We're building the place you actually belong.
Real connection doesn't come from one more dinner with strangers. It comes from showing up with the same people, again and again, until a room of acquaintances becomes your people. That's what we're creating: a space that feels safe enough to be yourself, and worth coming back to.
- No profiles. No swiping.
- The same crew, week after week.
- A real host who makes it safe to open up.
How it works
We match your crew
We assemble a small, vibe-matched group and pick the place. The plan lands in your chat a day or two before.
Show up, again and again
A real host keeps the room warm, and 50 to 70% of the same faces carry forward each week. That's how friendships actually form.
Three cohorts. Pick the room you need.
Every cohort is small, recurring, and led by a facilitator. You apply to one, and we match you into a group that fits.
Founder
A real bench of 8 builders.
Grief & Loss
A small, private group held by a licensed therapist.
Social
Find your Tuesday crew.
Starting prices shown for Buenos Aires. Final pricing is confirmed on your onboarding call.
Live in Buenos Aires. Coming to your city next.
On the waitlist
Tell us where you are, and we expand to the cities with the most demand.
- San Francisco
- Denver
- New York
- Tokyo
Built on the science of how friendship actually forms
Social media turned connection into a quantity game: followers, likes, curated highlight reels. People now have 500 to 1,000 followers and fewer genuine close friends than ever. We build for the opposite: a small room, real proximity, and the four things research says actually create lasting friendship.
Propinquity
Physical proximity determines depth. Even at one table, you bond with the person beside you more than across from you, so we design rooms where closeness is built in.
Mere exposure
You don't need to click instantly. Repeated encounters over time naturally deepen friendship, so we keep the same core faces coming back week after week.
Vulnerability
When one person opens up in a safe space, it gives the whole group permission to do the same. A briefed host opens that door at the right moment.
Dunbar's Number
The brain supports ~150 acquaintances, ~15 close contacts, and ~5 intimate friends. Followers don't count. We build for the 5 and the 15, not the 1,000.
30
members in the first Buenos Aires cohort
5
gatherings run so far
100%
money-back guarantee on your first two gatherings
Join a cohort
Applications are reviewed by a human. Here's exactly what happens after you hit apply.
Apply in two minutes
Tell us where you are and what you're looking for. No profiles, no swiping.
Say hi on WhatsApp
The moment you apply, we open a pre-filled WhatsApp message to us. Just hit send and we'll pick it up from there.
Claim your seat
If it's a match, you pay in full right then to hold your seat for the season. Full refund if you cancel up to 7 days before your first session, or we roll you to the next cohort.