Andy Dunn’s startup Pie is evolving from its original role as an events app into a broader social networking platform. The company recently introduced a new "Community Homes" feature that creates permanent digital spaces for social groups, providing an alternative to group texts and Facebook Groups. This shift aims to foster ongoing connections and interactions, with events becoming a natural byproduct of community engagement rather than the sole focus. Pie currently has around 300,000 users and is backed by investors including Forerunner, Lightspeed, and Accel, along with Twitter co-founder Ev Williams.

The timing of Pie’s pivot aligns with a cultural movement among younger generations who seek more meaningful, real-world connections after years dominated by online socializing. Community Homes offer group members a dedicated feed, membership controls, and event planning tools to strengthen relationships beyond one-off events. Pie plans to enhance this experience further with upcoming features like group chats and casual invitations for spontaneous hangouts or shared interests, encouraging more organic social interactions.

This development complements earlier changes made by Pie to emphasize relationships over events. In late 2025, Pie altered its activity feed to highlight acquaintances attending events, which increased user engagement significantly — average time spent in the app rose from two to ten minutes. Additionally, Pie introduced a “favorites” feature, allowing users to showcase their interests and cultivate richer public profiles. Dunn’s inspiration comes from his personal experience relocating from New York to Chicago and struggling to build community, as well as observing a resurgence in social clubs among Gen Z.

To strengthen its leadership, Pie added Nadya Okamoto, founder of New York’s popular Zoomies run club, as co-founder and CMO. Okamoto describes Pie as a platform reminiscent of early Facebook and Reddit ideals but free from toxicity and anonymity, focusing on authentic community building that naturally includes events. Although Pie is accessible nationwide, it has seen the strongest adoption in cities such as Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles as it works to become a digital hub for connection and social belonging.