Amethyst

We have endless technology claiming to connect us, but we are lonelier than ever.

The reason is clear: Connection is not a "problem" an algorithm or a company should solve.

Relationships come from our creativity, vulnerability, and engagement on our own terms.

Discovery

Discovery is the core product, but it doesn't use an algorithm.

How it works is straightforward and transparent:

• Users seed Profiles with specific, descriptive interests
• Users create Signals — ideas for gatherings that become a conversation
• Users can properly search profiles and signals according to hierarchical tags and keywords
• Users converse on Signals, or directly, to finalize plans for meeting in person

This architecture ensures discovery remains human, with the tradeoff of needing the right culture to be successful.

For a deeper understanding of our discovery engine and its advantages over existing products, you can read all about our design decisions here.

Alignment

Amethyst will always be a nonprofit organization, working to enable local connection and mitigate loneliness and isolation.

There is only one metric we care about: The quality and frequency of connecting people in the real world. Every design decision is aimed exactly towards this end.

We believe Alignment with the public good is essential, as it allows us to create the following anti-patterns, in direct opposition to the dominant existing social technology:

• No Attention Harvesting
• No Matching
• No Feeds
• No Vanity (Social Comparison)
• No Subscriptions
• No Ads
• No Data Harvesting

You are not the product. This product is in service to you.

We hope you find these design choices as resonant as we do.

Culture

While we will never require money, there is something else more critical to our success, which we ask from our users. You need to be:

• Introspective: Defining interests you'd like to connect on
• Creative: Coming up with ideas for gatherings and conversation
• Vulnerable: Expressing your true self genuinely
• Open: To meeting other people in person, not just communicating through a screen

It's no small ask, but this is how connection works. You get out proportional to what you give.

This paradigm may feel daunting, but the consequences are profound:

If you made a connection through Amethyst, it was not because of us. It was you.

Your Introspection. Your Creativity. Your Vulnerability. Your Openness.

Better still — these qualities are valuable to cultivate, regardless of outcome.

We welcome all to use this platform, but especially those that share this intuition.

Success & Feedback

If you meet others through Amethyst, and get the ultimate prize — a friendship or partnership you treasure for the rest of your life — we'd love to hear about it. It's the only way to know we are truly succeeding in our mission.