Welcome to Happenstance!
"The best connections happen by chance."
Our Mission
The 21st-century dating scene is full of people seeking meaningful connections while balancing busy, yet flexible lifestyles. As remote work and mobile living become commonplace, singles find themselves in increasingly diverse, spontaneous settings—cafes, parks, and even airport lounges. Happenstance helps people embrace these organic moments, facilitating in-person connections in real-time, wherever their paths may cross. It’s dating in your favorite spaces, with no swipes or algorithms—just authentic interactions as they happen.
The Solution
Leveraging IP-based geolocation, Happenstance connects singles who cross paths in daily life. Users are notified when they encounter others on the app and can choose to share a limited dating profile.
If both parties show interest, complete profiles are exchanged, setting the stage for a seamless in-person introduction.
This approach enhances the quality and authenticity of connections by embracing the serendipitous nature of in-person interactions.
Target Market
Dating apps are more popular than ever, with over 60 million users in the U.S. in 2023. Yet, most of these platforms prioritize virtual connections, neglecting the importance of in-person interactions and contributing to a growing sense of ‘swipe fatigue’.
76% of U.S. users feel mentally or physically exhausted from dating apps sometimes, often, or always. Happenstance offers a refreshing alternative to traditional dating apps, especially for the younger, hyper-online generation.
About
Zachary Van Tol has over five years of experience in higher education and public-private partnerships. Currently a Ph.D. Candidate at Arizona State University, Van Tol combines his expertise in social science with a commitment to enhancing real-world experiences, uniquely positioning him to lead a relationship-building revolution centered on in-person interaction.
Zach founded Happenstance to bring dating back to the real world, believing technology should enhance, not replace, relationship building.
