Moving to a new place is hard, even if it is Normandy! It may be a lovely place to live but moving to a new region can mean big changes: no family close by, new routines etc. Yoann Poher and Samuel Guillot launched Leizup to help people settle in and combat loneliness. It’s a 100% Norman digital platform that makes it easier to meet people. The concept won the innovation award at the Regional Innovation Challenge by Seine-Maritime Attractivité, as well as the 2022 Créactif competition by Métropole Rouen Normandie. Let’s find out more.
The founders of Leizup
Yoann Poher and Samuel Guillot have launched Leizup, a 100% Norman digital platform to simplify encounters. Their idea won them the innovation prize in the regional innovation challenge organised by Seine-Maritime Attractivité, as well as the Créactif 2022 competition organised by the Rouen Normandy metropolitan area. Portrait.
Learn how the Leizup App was inspired by real-life experiences
Like many innovations, the idea for Leizup came from real life experience. This one came from Yoann Poher, from Bernay in Normandy. “A few years ago, I finished my Master’s in marketing communication specialising in sport, and moved to Reims with my girlfriend to work at a sports marketing agency.” Despite it being his “dream job”, he soon realised that he had to start everything else from scratch. “You have to start all over again when you move somewhere else: you’re away from family, friends… it can be tough.” So how do you rebuild your social life? Just doing things and going out with lots of people? Making new friends?
I played football with my workmates during the week – we were always trying to find people to play with us. But then we didn't know anyone who we could go out with at the weekend.
After being made redundant and moving back to Normandy, Yoann began to explore the idea in Rouen and make his business dream a reality with a modern way to meet people and do things together. But he didn’t know where to start. With the help of Normandie Incubation and STERNE training, specialists taught Yoann the basics in entrepreneurship between March and October 2020. Market study, pitch, business model, communication, accounting etc. “Support is vital,” says the Norman who also took part in the CCI’s “5 jours pour entreprendre” start-up training course. A freelance friend helped him code and design his platform in August. The first version was ready in January 2021. And Yoann isn’t alone anymore: he now has a partner.
Explore multiple activities and social connections with the Leizup App
His partner is Samuel Guillot. After an IT degree where he learnt the basics in programming and coding, then a 3-year sandwich course with Thales during engineering college, Cherbourg-born Samuel also explored his entrepreneurial streak when he launched www.sauvermonbar.fr at the start of the pandemic so people could buy gift vouchers to support businesses that had to close during lockdown.
Stronger together and with a Facebook community of 4000 members in Rouen that Yoann had built, the two Normans officially launched the Leizup platform in March 2021. They carried on working on the platform and improving the user experience. The Leizup platform only had a website when it launched. Leizup became a mobile app available on Play Store (Android) and App Store (IOS) in January 2023.
Some hosts compete to be the most original! For example, one person did a version of come dine with me and someone else did a real treasure hunt in Rouen.
What’s the idea? To provide an online space that enables any user to create or search for activities to expand their circle of friends in just 2 minutes. Parties, cultural outings, sports, community projects and more. “It ranges from going out for drinks or bowling to theme nights, hikes, runs and games,” says Yoann. In terms of how it works, it’s simple and you just need to create a profile with your photo, age, short description and hobbies. “The idea is for everyone to get a sense of what other people get up to or enjoy before they meet.” How many people can take part? That’s up to the host and goes up to 100 people, depending on what kind of outing it is. “After registering, you can suggest an event or search for one put forward by another user. You can search by area and date then, if you find one you like, you ask the host if you can join in and they’re sent a notification.”
How the Leizup App is testing new ways to boost social connections
The two friends have covered every base. “Once you’re request has been accepted, you join an instant messenger on the app for all the attendees and the host so you can all chat, get to know each other and discuss the final details of the event.” It’s the perfect opportunity to interact online before you meet in real life. In case of cancellations or unpleasant surprises, the system enables attendees to describe the people they’ve met after the event: sporty, fun, creative etc. “We don’t judge. All the adjectives are positive,” says Samuel. The two partners have even covered age and gender criteria for each activity. Outings with girls or 30-somethings… “but it doesn’t happen often: the events tend to be open to anyone,” says Yoann.
People tell us that they've met people that they wouldn't have met without the app.
The business model is currently based on three systems. The basic version is free, but users can sign up to the Leiz Pass which provides a free 15-day trial period followed by bonus features for 35.99€ per year or 6.99€ per month.
The premium version has lots going for it: no advertising, a cap on attendees, exclusive discounts for events and Leizup partners. The premium version also allows you to send private messages to the people you meet at events.
Alongside that, Yoann and Samuel organise events through Leizup to give their “Zupper” community unique and memorable experiences. They also work with leisure companies: bars, restaurants, bowling alleys, escape rooms, laser quests etc. They pay a monthly subscription so they can promote their venues and events on the app to improve their visibility, renown and footfall.
A new challenge
Events planning, companies looking to hire, councils… “We play a big role in helping newcomers settle into the area. And loneliness is an issue that has got worse with Covid and WFH. Lots of people don’t know how to rebuild their social lives quickly and easily.” Their bright idea saw the Rouen start-up win the 2022 Créactif competition by Métropole Rouen Normandie and the innovation award at the Regional Innovation Challenge by Seine-Maritime Attractivité. In the field of “Digital services supporting community life”, the awards will provide the Leizup team with additional resources to continue, expand and empower its development. For example, the app has launched and the concept is being rolled out to other French cities, including Caen in Normandy, where the community is growing and events are happening every week.
Leizup's success at the competition is due to its positive impact on both the people who live here and the region.
Since launching, new members sign up to the platform on a daily basis and it has over 15,000 members in France. With an average age group of 23-45 and users aged between 18 and 76, Leizup wants to cover all generations, combat loneliness and help people settle in. There have been up to 5000 events and 235,000 encounters since it launched. “Whether it’s to build or improve your social life, explore an area or try something new, we’re here for anyone looking for encounters of any kind.” So, are you ready to make new friends?
In figures :
- 15,000 users in France, 6000 in Seine-Maritime/70% of events in the Rouen area
- Going out for drinks accounts for 25% of all events
- Pool games, bowling, restaurants, nightclubs, house parties, concerts and sporting events are also available
- Two competitors: the long-standing On Va Sortir (founded in 2005) and Facebook groups
- Yoann and Samuel estimate that 60% of Leizup’s Zuppers are long-term Normandy residents and 40% have recently moved here for work or school. 70% of them say the platform has improved their bond with Rouen and 96% say that Leizup has helped improve their wellbeing.
- A survey found that 1 in 5 French people always or often feel lonely and ¾ of the people that feel lonely or isolated don’t talk about it
Thematics
