Connect4.Chat

Connect4.Chat, new friends for University of Michigan students

  1. 1You fill out & submit the survey
  2. 2We verify student status, review answers, and confirm you are in
  3. 3Your personalized matches are sent with a bio & game plan
  4. 4You meet your new friends for coffee
Complete survey online Complete survey via texting

Mission Statement

Life is hard. Making friends should not be. But with third spaces disappearing, life moving onto screens, new cities to call home, and hectic weeks meeting someone new keeps getting harder. So we make space for exactly that we match you with new friends and you meet in person. No cost, and you choose your own adventure.

questions

Who can join?
University of Michigan (UMich) students in Ann Arbor, for the pilot. Your uniqname is how we check.
How can I sign up?
Online at connect4.chat/form.
How does matching work?
First we respect your identity preference gender, politics, religion, or no preference. Then our top secret formula takes over. We can say this much: it starts with your interests and hobbies, and a real person reads every answer.
When do I find my match information?
On the Tuesday before you meet, at 11:11 AM ET. Sign-ups close Monday at 5 PM ET.
Where do we meet?
At coffee shops, like Sweetwaters at the Michigan Union or Mujo on North Campus. The exact place comes with your match. Have an idea for an event or another spot? Tell us.
What should we chat about?
Anything you like. If you want a starting point, here are some questions to chat through.
Does it work?
We are 50% above the industry standard for making new friends and for return rate. If you have any recommendations to make this 100% better, please let us know!

founder

Matthew Guella (Ross '20 & Yale SOM '26) founded Connect4.Chat after doing ~200 interviews about human loneliness. He has built community through being the Social Chair at ZS (Chicago) & Bain (Austin), launching Pulse in '26, and hosting monthly dinners for the last decade. Any questions ping him

Possible discussion questions for new connections to chat through

Not required to use, but research shows going deeper is better than staying surface level to form new friendships

questions