New "social travel app" Frienzy launches in Dallas » Dallas Innovates

James McElroy and Asher Wabreck, childhood best friends from Dallas, went their separate ways at the age of 18 to attend the University of Texas at Austin and Louisiana State University, respectively. Since then, the two have taken “countless backpacking trips” together and dealt with various problems along the way. The biggest problem was the endless texting and emailing around friends to plan trips, the struggle with shared expenses and sharing memories and thoughts on various apps and social media sites.

“Coordinating friends’ trips and expenses through text and email is a nightmare because information gets disorganized, details get left out, and there’s confusion about shared costs and plans,” Wabreck told Dallas Innovates.

Now 26 and 27 years old, and upper echelons of Gen Z, McElroy and Wabreck are trying to solve all these problems with the commercialization of Frienzy, a new social network and mobile app they launched in Dallas.

Frienzy’s co-founders are COO Asher Wabreck (left) and CEO James McElroy. [Composite photo; originals: Frienzy]

Frienzy is the “first” social network to bring groups of travelers together to safely manage their travel itineraries. Available for both Apple and Android mobile devices, the app allows users to receive real-time updates on group events and itinerary changes, and book activities, hotels, restaurants and more directly from the app.

Frienzy tracks joint expenses, enables “accurate and transparent cost splits and payments,” and provides a “single source of truth for travel coordination,” the founders say. From quick jaunts to dream vacations, the app allows group travelers to connect through a “global network of travel buddies” who join forces to make new friends, and gives them the tools to record and share every moment.

Targeting Gen Z and modeling the behavior of older generations

The co-founders believe Gen Z is passionate about group travel, and travel in general. They point to an April Thrillist article, “Gen Z spends nearly half of their disposable income on travel,” citing research that found that 78% of Gen Z travelers plan to take a vacation in the next 12 months. Nearly 50% of those surveyed said they plan to spend 20% to 40% of their disposable income on vacations.

According to Morning Consul Pro, more than half (52%) of Gen Z adults have taken at least three trips in the past year.

McElroy says Frienzy is designed to make those trips smoother and more memorable.

“Frienzy is more than just an app,” he said in a statement. “It’s a brand new social network that connects friends over a shared love of adventure and authentic experiences, inspiring new connections with like-minded travelers looking to share their journeys and develop new friendships.”

“Digital-savvy Gen Z is known for its careful planning and detailed itineraries, but also for its embrace of improvisation,” he added. “So Frienzy had to be flexible enough to manage pre-made itineraries and empower users to plan adventures on the fly. And we’ve succeeded.”

Putting the “social” in social networks

McElroy and Wabreck believe that their Gen Z compatriots, who make up more than 20% of the U.S. population, are “particularly open to group travel and shared experiences because they value meaningful connections and memorable adventures,” which they believe will appeal to millennials and Gen Xers alike through social networks.

They now want Frienzy to be a network that does all of this, better helping users coordinate frequent trips, split costs, and share experiences with others.

“Our goal is to take people away from their screens and into the world to meet, connect and share real-life experiences,” McElroy said.

How the app works

Users begin their journey on Frienzy by uploading their itinerary or manually entering their destination and travel dates, after which the app will make booking recommendations based on the user’s interests, including activities, accommodation and dining options.

You can set up private travel groups with friends and family through the app and plan a single trip or a multi-destination trip around the world.

Switching to “Discovery Mode” on the app also allows you to create itineraries from Frienzy’s “growing network of travel buddies who want to share their experiences, helping travelers discover and connect with new friends and other destinations.”

During the trip, the app tracks shared expenses and allows group travelers to review and pay their individual contributions. There’s also an “easy way” to share photos and trip updates along the way, eliminating the need to coordinate group trips via text messages, emails and phone calls “by automating group communications, improving collaboration and safety.”

Recently raised through an angel round, the company already has over 15,000 users

The beta version of the Frienzy app, developed last year, has already attracted more than 15,000 users “through organic advertising, bootstrap marketing and word of mouth alone,” according to Wabreck.

That’s set to change now that the app has officially launched: The co-founders recently closed an angel investment round, raising an undisclosed amount from “local family offices, early-stage venture capitalists, and private angel investors.”

Now they’re looking to go a step further, with the team hoping to reach “250,000 multi-generational users” by the end of 2024 through organic growth and strategic distribution partnerships.

“We’re going to be launching paid advertising for the first time next week, which we’re really excited about,” Wabreck said. “So far we’ve had users in over 20 countries, which is an interesting thing to note.”

To help spread the message, the co-founders also recently hired social media manager Rachel Poisnot, who Wabreck says has taken the business to “new heights.”

The co-founder and his team developed the app in-house, but are now “coordinating key distribution channels and several B2B partnerships” to ensure travellers flow in.

The co-founders say they are now exploring opportunities to accelerate Frienzy’s next wave of growth “through additional funding rounds.”

Give your users a chance to go viral

McElroy says Frienzy offers “an element of virality.”

“Users can share their travel experiences and potentially talk about them on our Discover page, blending travel with the excitement of social media,” he said.

But sharing expenses, locations and plans can raise privacy concerns, and the CEO says he built Frienzy with that in mind.

“Frienzy’s private travel groups are secure and information is only shared within the group, not with the larger community,” he noted.

Still, there are ways for people to share and connect across groups.

“By sharing itineraries, tips and experiences, and participating in group activities and trips, our network allows strangers to collaborate and foster a community of like-minded travelers,” McElroy said.

I wish there was an app for Bali

Last year, before Frienzy was released, Wabrek went on a trip and wished he had installed it on his phone.

“I was lucky enough to spend some time in Bali and meet a wonderful and diverse group of travelers,” says the COO. “Frienzy makes it easy to stay in touch with everyone, co-plan and coordinate upcoming trips, and see where others are traveling – maybe I’ll even be inspired to join in the fun!”

Next time you travel, there will be an app for that.

The Frienzy app can be downloaded from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. For more information, visit the Frienzy website.