The seeds of Venn took root in 2016 while co-founders Chen Avni and Or Bokobza traveled the globe. No matter where they went, they saw that people everywhere often lacked the type of close, real-world connections that they experienced growing up in communal environments in Israel. So they started to wonder if, as virtual communities expanded, humans had somehow lost touch with the values and benefits of a true neighborhood. And they wanted to do something to change that…

Over the years in our neighborhoods, we’ve learned that individual and community levels of loneliness and connection are highly-accurate predictors of people’s likelihood to stay and put down roots. And Venn Neighbors are simply less lonely than their peers. The social impact of increasing real-life connections and decreasing loneliness goes hand-in-hand with increasing demand, retention, and net operating income for our real estate partners. Last year, Venn Neighbors reported a 50% rise in the number of new connections made with Neighbors, and contributed a 240% boost in local spending. All because vibrant, connected neighborhoods attract more new residents and, perhaps more importantly, give them compelling reasons to stay. Simply put, Venn’s Neighborhood Platform aligns all the interests in the neighborhoods, so vitality and growth can benefit every member of a community.