NextIsOnMe

Building NextIsOnMe 🥂 Reclaiming the real world, one coffee at a time. Sharing raw thoughts on tech, digital wellness, and fixing the loneliness epidemic.

[NextIsOnMe @nextisonme]

A few weeks ago, I was offered a lucrative, fully remote role at one of Europe's largest financial institutions.

On paper, it was a dream.

But I turned it down to keep building NextIsOnMe with $0 income.

Here is why: 👇

1/ The Dilemma
Building a startup means burning your own capital and waking up to massive uncertainty. When a golden corporate parachute is waved in front of you, the temptation to exit the grind is incredibly real.

2/ The 20-Year Test
I projected myself 20 years into the future. If I took the job, I’d retire comfortable, but my name would be forgotten within a year of leaving. If I stayed, I had a shot at building something with genuine, lasting societal impact.

3/ The Real Crisis
We are living through a massive loneliness epidemic, declining fertility rates, and a complete breakdown of genuine human connection. Modern tech has isolated us behind screens. I want to build the antidote.

4/ The Mission
NextIsOnMe isn't just an app; it's a movement to bring people back to the real world. To sit across a physical table, share a treat, and actually talk face-to-face.

It is terrifying to bet on yourself when you are burning your own runway. But some visions are simply too important to trade for a paycheck.

We choose to build. 🚀

#Nextisonme #betterdating #buildinpublic

[John - NextIsOnMe Founder @nextisonme_]

The weekend is almost over, and you’re faced with the exact same reality:

1. You spent hours texting group chats just trying to align schedules.
2. Half your friends flaked or were too exhausted to step out.
3. You gave up, ordered delivery, and spent hours scrolling on your phone.

We swapped spontaneous real world memories for digital screen addiction and modern cities became lonelier because of it.

You don't need a high stakes date, a massive inner circle, or a 3 week calendar invite just to enjoy your evening.

You just need low stakes, real world INTENT.

• A 45-minute post work drink to decompress.
• A spontaneous coffee at a cool local patio.
• A shared table to watch a game or try a new spot.

NextIsOnMe (NIOM) is completely changing how people experience their city.

No group chat negotiations.
No romantic pressure.
No advance planning headaches.

Put the phone down, break the scrolling loop, and step back into real life.

[John - NextIsOnMe Founder @nextisonme_]

The death of the "Casual Night Out" is officially ruining city culture.

Look at how people in their 20s, 30s, and 40s socialize today:

• Every outing has to be planned 3 weeks in advance.
• Every venue requires a $100 reservation deposit.
• Dating apps turned meeting people into a high pressure job interview.
• Group chats die in silence because everyone is exhausted from work.

So what happens? Millions of people choose the path of least resistance:
Stay home, order delivery, and scroll through 3 hours of short-form videos watching *other* people live their lives.

We swapped real world serendipity for digital screen addiction and everyone is secretly lonely because of it.

Here is the truth nobody wants to admit:
You don't need a 5 hour production, a massive inner circle, or a high stakes date just to enjoy your evening.

You just need low stakes, real world INTENT.

• A 45 minute post work drink to decompress.
• A spontaneous coffee or draft beer at a local neighborhood spot.
• A shared table to watch a game or try a new food venue.

The best memories in your life were never scheduled on a Google Calendar three weeks in advance. They happened on a whim because you stepped out the door.

NextIsOnMe (NIOM) is completely flipping the script on modern socializing.

We don't care about keeping your eyes glued to an app feed. NIOM is a real world intent network designed to match you with active crowds and open tables nearby right now, in real time.

Zero group chat negotiations.
Zero romantic pressure.
Zero advance scheduling headaches.

Put the phone down, break the scrolling loop, and reclaim your city tonight.

[John - NextIsOnMe Founder @nextisonme_]

I asked Grok to pit NextIsOnMe against Tinder.

The verdict?

If you want 10,000 swipes and zero plans, use Tinder.

If you want actual real-world interactions without swipe fatigue, use NIOM.

We know we have work to do on liquidity (volume), but when it comes to connection quality and getting people offline, the vision is hitting the mark.

Dating app fatigue is shifting the entire market back to real life.

[John - NextIsOnMe Founder @nextisonme_]

The Influencer Marketing Myth: Why 100,000 Video Views Don't Fill Your Empty Seats

A blunt reality check for restaurant, bar, and lounge managers: Hiring food influencers to post polished video clips is inflating your vanity metrics while bleeding your cash flow.

Consider the standard food influencer marketing campaign:

1. You pay an influencer $500 to $2,000 (or provide hundreds of dollars in free food and drinks) to film a polished 30-second reel of your signature dishes and cocktails.
2. The video goes viral. It receives 80,000 views, 3,000 likes, and dozens of comments saying "Oh wow, we need to try this place!"
3. You check your sales receipts over the next month... and your foot traffic barely moves.

Why Influencer Views Fail to Convert Into Revenue

Digital content viewers are passive consumers looking for entertainment, not high intent patrons looking for a table tonight.

Someone watching food videos on their couch at midnight is consuming content like a TV show. Bookmarks, likes, and comments do not cover your monthly lease, pay your kitchen staff, or sit in your physical chairs.

Digital ad agencies and influencers sell *viewership*. Hospitality venues need *physical foot traffic*.

How NextIsOnMe (NIOM) Delivers Real World Spenders

NIOM completely ignores digital vanity metrics and focuses exclusively on driving real time human presence to your floor.

• Real World Intent: Connect with active users who are already out in your neighborhood right now, actively deciding where to spend their evening.
• Immediate Group Seating: Drive organized social tables directly to your quiet seats instead of praying for passive video viewers to convert weeks later.
• Sustainable Full Margin Revenue: Fill quiet hours with patrons who value atmosphere, community, and service preserving your full price margins.

Stop paying for digital bookmarks that never turn into real visits. Start capturing real foot traffic outside your doors.

[John - NextIsOnMe Founder @nextisonme_]

Overcoming the Internal Monologue: Why Sitting Alone at a Venue Feels So Intimidating

Let’s analyze a internal debate that keeps millions of people trapped inside their homes every weekend.

You hear about an incredible new rooftop cocktail lounge, a local craft brewery, or a high end coffee tasting spot in your neighborhood. You genuinely want to experience it. You want to try the menu, take in the architecture, and feel the atmosphere.

Then, the internal monologue begins:

"Do I really want to sit at a bar counter by myself staring at my phone screen for two hours?"
"Will the staff or other patrons look at me like I have no social life?"
"What if the venue is packed with groups and I’m occupying a single stool in the corner feeling completely out of place?"

The result? You talk yourself out of going. You stay home, open a food delivery app, and watch television not because you wanted to stay home, but because going out alone carried too much social awkwardness.

The Hidden Psychology of Solo Outings

There is a massive difference between wanting quiet alone time and feeling trapped by social friction.

Going out solo is completely fine, but humans are inherently social creatures. We naturally enjoy sharing a reaction when a drink is incredible, laughing over a funny moment, or engaging in a spontaneous debate about music or sports with someone sitting across the table.

The awkwardness of going out alone isn't caused by the venue, the menu, or the staff it is caused by the lack of a clear, low stakes entry point into a conversation.

How NextIsOnMe (NIOM) Creates Instant Entry Points

NIOM acts as your social bridge into local spots so you never have to feel awkward or out of place again:

• Host an Open Table: Heading to a lounge? Drop a simple intent on NIOM and invite someone nearby to join your table before you even leave your house.
• Join an Existing Plan: See a fellow local already hanging out at a venue you’ve been wanting to try? Join their open intent with two taps.
• Built-In Common Ground: You don't need awkward icebreakers. The connection is already built around a shared curiosity for the destination, the drink, or the experience.

You don't have to choose between isolating at home or feeling out of place at a local spot.

Turn any solo outing into a great story tonight

[John - NextIsOnMe Founder @nextisonme_]

The Lonely City Paradox: Why 50,000 Saved Reels Will Never Replace One Real Drink

Let’s talk about a silent crisis happening in every major city right now.

You open your favorite video app. You spend 45 minutes scrolling through hyper aesthetic city guides, "hidden gem" cocktail bars, and rooftop lounges. You tap "Save" or "Bookmark" on twenty different videos.

Your saved folder is a graveyard of places you will never actually visit.

The Psychological Illusion of Digital Exploration:
When you bookmark a video of a vibrant venue, your brain receives a micro dose of dopamine. It tricks you into feeling like you’ve taken action toward an exciting social life.

In reality, you haven't left your bed. You haven't spoken to a human. You haven't tasted a drink. You have simply replaced physical experience with digital hoarding.

Why Urbanites Are Rich in Content, But Poor in Connection:
1. The Friction Trap: Saving a venue is easy. Convincing a group chat to actually go there requires four hours of logistical back and forth that usually dies in silence.
2. The "Solo" Stigma: You want to visit the spot, but going to a high energy venue alone feels intimidating, so you default to staying inside.
3. Algorithmic Overload: Modern platforms are engineered to sell you the *idea* of a social life while keeping your thumb glued to the screen.

The Shift From Content Consumer to City Participant

Real life doesn't happen in your "Saved" folder. Real life happens when you step through a venue door, sit at a table, smell the atmosphere, and share an unscripted conversation with someone sitting nearby.

NextIsOnMe (NIOM) was engineered to bridge the gap between digital discovery and real world presence:

• Zero Video Scrolling: Stop watching other people live their lives on video feeds.
• Immediate Intent Broadcast: "At [Local Spot] grabbing a drink. Open table for anyone nearby."
• Instant Real-World Connection: Turn an unused bookmark into a real memory within 20 minutes.

Your city is waiting for you outside your screen.

Turn your saved posts into real plans tonight

https://t.co/MMKKYtDwHf

[John - NextIsOnMe Founder @nextisonme_]

I see so many posts online from people looking for new friends, someone to hang out with, or a group to grab a casual drink with.

Newcomers in large cities feeling lost, people moving past a breakup, solo travelers, or locals who just realized their old social circles have drifted apart.

Modern platforms keep us connected to thousands of digital avatars, yet finding one real person to grab a coffee with on a Tuesday evening feels harder than ever. People resort to posting on Reddit subreddits or Facebook groups asking: "Where do adults actually meet friends in this city?"

That’s the exact gap we’re bridging at NextIsOnMe (NIOM).

We built NIOM around a simple truth: people don't want another endless swipe queue or a dead forum thread. They want low-friction, real-world connection.

Here is how you actually find your people on NIOM:

1️⃣ Casual User Meets (No Pressure, Just Real Humans) 🤝
Instead of formal networking or awkward group events, NIOM lets you browse or host User Meets. Whether you're in a sprawling megacity or a local hub, finding a genuine friend is worth taking a short trip across town.

Want to grab a morning espresso before work?

Need a buddy to check out a new cocktail bar?

Looking for someone who shares a specific niche interest?

Post a Meetup or join an active one nearby. The expectation is set from minute one: simple, low-stakes, real-world hangouts.

2️⃣ Great Local Venues as the Backdrop ☕
Finding a person is only half the equation, you also need a comfortable, welcoming spot to meet. NIOM connects user meetups directly with curated Venue Offers at local cafes, restobars, and hangout spaces. It takes the awkwardness out of "where should we go?" by grounding your meetup in spots that actively want to host you.

If you're sitting in a new city (or your hometown) wishing your social life had a bit more spontaneous energy, stop posting in anonymous digital groups hoping for a reply.

Get offline. Post a Meet, discover who’s around you, and make a real connection today.

The next connection is on us. 🚀

https://t.co/MMKKYtDwHf

#NextIsOnMe #BuildInPublic #Community #MakeFriends #Startup #GetOffline

[John - NextIsOnMe Founder @nextisonme_]

Your group chat is active, but when was the last time you all sat at the same table? 💬

Digital closeness is easy. Physical presence takes commitment.

Don’t let text threads replace actual memories. ☕

Who are you bringing out of the group chat and into the real world this week? 👀

#NextIsOnMe #RealPresence #FriendshipGoals

[John - NextIsOnMe Founder @nextisonme_]

Working from home is the ultimate modern luxury until the end of the workday hits and the silence in your apartment becomes deafening.

You spent eight hours staring at a backlit screen. You answered dozens of emails, cleared your task manager, closed your browser tabs, and logged off your team chat.

Now what?

You want to transition from "work mode" to "personal life," but heading down to a local lounge or coffee shop completely by yourself feels a bit anticlimactic. You don't necessarily want a wild night out you just want a casual, low stakes conversation over a good drink to feel human again.

In the past, people had a "Third Place" a neighborhood pub, a local café, or a community center where you could naturally bump into regulars without an appointment. Today, digital culture has largely destroyed those organic gathering spots.

The Trap of Modern Digital Apps:
• Social Feeds: Show you what other people did yesterday, but give you no way to connect with anyone today.
• Professional Networks: Force you to pitch yourself, keep your guard up, and talk about career milestones.
• Dating Apps: Carry romantic expectations, high pressure matching, and endless text messaging that rarely turns into a real world meetup.

None of these platforms solve the simplest human desire: "I just want to grab a quick drink with someone nearby right now."

How NextIsOnMe (NIOM) Bridges the Gap:
NIOM was built specifically to restore the modern Third Place by matching immediate intent rather than digital profiles.

1. Broadcast your vibe: "Post work espresso martini at [Local Spot]."
2. Connect with neighbors: See who else in your immediate area is closing their laptop and looking to decompress.
3. Real world connection: Show up, enjoy a conversation, build an organic local network, and head home whenever you're ready.

No awkward networking pitches. No dating pressure. Just genuine human connection right in your neighborhood.

Reclaim your evenings and step outside:

https://t.co/1ekFqmLa2x

[John - NextIsOnMe Founder @nextisonme_]

We’re running a dual strategy at NextIsOnMe (NIOM) based on how cities actually operate:

🌆 Megacities (5M+) remain our top priority for User-to-User Meetups. Finding a genuine new friend or niche connection is worth traveling for, people are more than happy to commute across town if it leads to a great real-world connection. Megacities give us the population volume needed to make those high-value, high-intent matches happen.

🌆 Smaller cities & compact hubs (50k–1M) are our top priority for Venue Partnerships & Giveaways.

Here’s why smaller cities lead our venue expansion engine:
📍 Zero Travel Friction: Everyone is a 5-minute walk or drive from the central strip.
📍 True Ad Alignment: Local visibility actually drives foot traffic straight through the door.
📍 Community Identity: Venues aren't just businesses, they are the social backbone of the town.
That’s why we are officially rolling out our Founding Venue Initiative for smaller cities and tight-knit districts.

If you own or work at a venue, here is why getting listed early is a game-changer:
1️⃣ The "Generosity Advertising" Effect 🎁

In close-knit towns, hosting a perk or giveaway isn't a discount—it’s a badge of community goodwill. Even before a user redeems a treat, hundreds of locals browse your spot on the NIOM dashboard. It acts as a sleek digital window display that tells the city: "We care about hosting you."

2️⃣ Early Joiner Prestige 🏆

The first 10–15 venues in a city set the benchmark. As an early partner, your spot becomes a founding anchor on the map, getting organic spotlight and word-of-mouth as the network grows around you.

3️⃣ Direct Foot Traffic, Zero Noise ☕

We don't build features to keep people staring at screens. NIOM is engineered to get people offline and moving straight to your counter for coffee, drinks, or casual treats.

📣 Calling all venue owners, managers, staff, & regulars!

Whether you:
• Own or manage a local cafe, restobar, dessert spot, or hangout space,
• Work behind the bar or counter and want to bring fresh energy to your shift,
• Or are a loyal regular who wants to see your favorite local spot on the map...

We want to partner with you.

Getting listed on NIOM as an early venue is fast, simple, and completely free to start.

Drop your city and venue name in the comments, or send us a DM to claim your spot as a Founding Venue! 🚀

https://t.co/QDZY67iZtY

#BuildInPublic #Startups #NextIsOnMe #LocalBusiness #Community #SmallBusiness

[John - NextIsOnMe Founder @nextisonme_]

Shipping V1 is a special feeling. You finally hold the working product in your hands, proud of what you’ve built.

But then the dust settles, and reality hits:

Every single feature, every UI flow, every piece of underlying architecture is only at its V1. You start seeing the gap between what it is today and what each element could truly become.

That’s when the real perspective shifts.

You realize greatness isn't about hitting "launch", it’s about the iteration that follows. So you head back to the editor, humbled, with a much clearer picture of what it actually takes to build something exceptional. 🚀

#buildinpublic #nextisonme #startup

[John - NextIsOnMe Founder @nextisonme_]

Happy New Month! 🥂

July was a pivotal month of building and execution for NextIsOnMe (NIOM). When you're creating a platform designed to bring people together in the real world, it's easy to get distracted by generic digital growth hacks. This past month, we cut through the noise and focused strictly on product foundation, hyper-local density, and real value for both users and venues.

Here is a full breakdown of what we shipped, learned, and executed in July:

1️⃣ The Rolling Giveaways Engine 🎁
We built and integrated our new Rolling Giveaways feature. The goal is simple: leverage automated local perks to incentivize real foot traffic into partner venues while giving users a fun, low-friction reason to step out. Instead of passive digital browsing, users get immediate, tangible incentives to visit local spots.

2️⃣ Frictionless Meetup UX ⚡
A real-world social app dies if organizing a hangout takes more than a few seconds. We re-architected and streamlined our meetup creation flow. Whether someone wants to host a quick casual meetup or offer a local treat, the process is now fast, intuitive, and frictionless.

3️⃣ Strategic Pivot: Micro-Density > Distracted Reach 📍
We refined our venue acquisition strategy with a major realization: cold digital outreach and spread-out locations don't build local momentum. In July, we shifted entirely to boots-on-the-ground, face-to-face venue partnerships.

Instead of scattering venues miles apart, we are focusing on clustering 10+ partner spots within single streets and tight walkable nodes. When a user opens NIOM inside an active cluster, the app instantly feels alive and usable.

The Vision Moving Into August 🚀
Most platforms are engineered to maximize your screen time. NIOM is built on the exact opposite premise: using simple, low-friction incentives to unlock safe, welcoming spaces where people can meet and connect in real life.

August is all about localized execution on the ground, scaling our key venue clusters, and turning foot traffic into real community density.

To everyone following the build-in-public journey, thank you for the support. Let's make August count! 💥

https://t.co/mytjaSZiam

#BuildInPublic #Startups #Tech #NextIsOnMe #LocalDiscovery

[John - NextIsOnMe Founder @nextisonme_]

Here is a harsh hospitality marketing truth: Pay Per Click digital ads are eating your profit margins while delivering zero guaranteed foot traffic to your tables.

Let’s break down the traditional digital marketing cycle that most restaurant and bar owners fall into:
1. You hire an agency or spend $1,000+ every month running targeted ads on Instagram and Facebook.
2. Your dashboard shows thousands of "impressions," "clicks," and "likes" on beautiful photos of your food and cocktails.
3. You walk out onto your floor on a quiet evening... and more than half of your tables are still completely empty.

Why does this happen week after week? Because digital ad impressions do not solve real world human behavior.

A person scrolling through their social feed while lying on their couch at 8:00 PM might "like" a high definition photo of your signature drink, but a double-tap on a screen does not get them out of bed, into their car, and through your front door.

Digital ads sell passive brand awareness. Venues need physical foot traffic and active spenders sitting in chairs.

How NextIsOnMe (NIOM) Replaces Digital Impressions With Real Bodies:
NIOM is not an ad network built to keep people glued to their phones scrolling through pictures. It is a real-world intent network engineered specifically to send active social groups straight to your venue floor.

• Zero Wasted Marketing Budget: Stop paying for digital views from scrollers who have no actual intention of stepping out tonight.
• Organic Table Fillers: NIOM matches ready-to-go local crowds with your open tables in real time, turning slow nights into active social hubs.
• High Margin, Full Price Customers: Attract patrons who care about atmosphere, community, and service not bargain hunters looking for cheap 50% off discount coupons.

Stop burning your hard-earned revenue on digital scrollers who never show up. Start capturing the real world crowds actively looking for a place tonight.

Partner with NIOM to fill your tables:

https://t.co/1ekFqmLHS5

[John - NextIsOnMe Founder @nextisonme_]

Most social apps are designed to monetize your screen time.

Our only goal at NIOM is to get you off the app and into the real world as fast as possible.

The real disruption is offline.

#startup #buildinpublic

[John - NextIsOnMe Founder @nextisonme_]

Every empty table at your venue on a slow evening represents wasted potential, idle staff, and revenue slipping through your fingers.

You built your establishment to be a vibrant gathering spot where people celebrate, relax, and share good times. Yet, week after week, you find yourself staring at empty tables, wondering why the local crowd isn't showing up despite your continuous ad spending on social media.

The uncomfortable truth is simple: local customers aren't avoiding your establishment because they don't like your menu. They are staying home because traditional digital marketing does nothing to solve the friction of modern socializing.

When foot traffic slows down, most venue managers fall into the "Discount Trap":
1. Cash flow tightens on quiet evenings.
2. You launch a 30% OFF coupon or a heavy drink promotion to drive traffic.
3. Deal-seekers flood your doors, order the cheapest items, tip poorly, and never return at full price.
4. Your margins get squeezed, and your brand prestige takes a hit.

You don't have a pricing problem. You have a social coordination problem.

People aren't staying home because your drinks are $2 too expensive. They are staying home because they don't have an organized group of friends ready to go out tonight.

How NextIsOnMe (NIOM) Changes Your Operational Reality:
NIOM doesn't bring you bargain hunters looking for cheap handouts. It connects you directly with active, high-intent social crowds ready to spend full price.

• Immediate Group Arrivals: NIOM drives organized groups of active users straight to your tables, filling empty seats organically.
• Full-Value Patronage: Welcome guests who appreciate your venue's atmosphere, service, and full-priced offerings.
• Sustainable Loyalty: When patrons form real connections inside your space, your venue transforms from a random venue on a map into their permanent neighborhood hangout.

Stop crossing your fingers that an algorithmic social post will magically fill your room. Start capturing real-world patrons who are actively looking for a table.

Turn quiet nights into lively social hubs:

https://t.co/1ekFqmLHS5

[John - NextIsOnMe Founder @nextisonme_]

Nature grants humans immense privileges.

It’s society that constantly drains them.

[John - NextIsOnMe Founder @nextisonme_]

Is buying someone a treat worth it if it leads to a real connection?

What’s your take? 👇

#friendship #kindness #meet #nextisonme

[John - NextIsOnMe Founder @nextisonme_]

If you were criticizing me at my lowest, don't expect a seat next to me at my highest.

[John - NextIsOnMe Founder @nextisonme_]

Collecting followers and profile likes isn't a social life it's just a digital echo chamber.

Real magnetism happens when you sit across from someone, hear their real voice, and share a genuine moment.

When was the last time you made a friend completely offline? 🤝

#NextIsOnMe #OfflineIsTheNewFlex #HumanConnection

[John - NextIsOnMe Founder @nextisonme_]

Almost anyone could build what you’re building.

What’s actually rare is being in the 2% who persist while the other 98% abandon the effort.

#buildinpublic