Guided group friendships for women, not one-off meetups.
RealRoots matches women into small groups for a six-week series of guided hangouts led by a trained facilitator. You talk to an AI coach, get matched with compatible women in your city, and then meet in person repeatedly — not just once. After the six weeks, you join a graduate community with ongoing weekly events. It's less of an app and more of a structured friendship program.
How it works
Download the app and complete a five-minute personality assessment with Lisa, RealRoots' AI coach. The system matches you with a small group of women in your city based on personality, interests, and life stage. A trained guide facilitates your first hangout so nobody has to carry the social weight alone. You meet the same group weekly for six weeks — the repeated contact is the whole point. After graduating, you join a community with weekly events and can stay connected with your group or meet new ones.
Who it's for
Women who've tried one-off friendship apps and found that a single coffee date never turns into a real friendship. Anyone who wants the structure removed from the equation — a guide runs the hangout, so you just show up. Women new to a city who want a built-in friend group, not just one contact at a time. Introverts who need repeated, low-pressure exposure to warm up to new people.
What works
Six-week format builds real friendships — not just surface-level connections from a single meetup. Trained guides facilitate every hangout so it's never awkward or one-sided. YC-backed with 150,000+ friendships made — serious traction and investment. Available on both iOS and Android. Graduate community with ongoing events means the friendships don't dead-end after six weeks.
What doesn't
Women only — not an option for men or co-ed groups. Requires a multi-week commitment upfront, which can feel like a lot. City availability is expanding but still limited in smaller metros. Pricing isn't transparent — you have to sign up to see costs.
Søren's Take
RealRoots solves the biggest problem with friendship apps: one coffee date doesn't make a friend. By committing you to six weeks with the same group and putting a trained guide in the room, they've essentially productized the way real friendships actually form — through repeated, low-stakes contact over time. The women-only focus is a deliberate choice that creates a specific kind of safety and openness. The 4.8-star rating with nearly 1,000 reviews and YC backing suggest this isn't a gimmick. If you're a woman tired of friendship apps that go nowhere, this is the one to try.
