This International Women’s Day, we celebrate innovativewomen like Lisa Golukhova; an entrepreneur, reshaping the way Gen Z and Millennials connect in the real world. At just 25 years old, Lisa has successfully launched Curated Community, an app which functions like a local members’ club in your pocket, enabling members to extend their social circle via a gamified match-making tool while also making positive change.
Lisa’s journey began in Switzerland, where she attended an international school, shaping her global outlook and passion for fostering connections across cultures. After moving to the UK to study Art History and Italian at Warwick University, she pursued a Master’s in Sustainable Development at St Andrews. It was during this time that she experienced firsthand the challenges of making authentic friendships outside of structured university settings.
Curated Community wasthen born, thriving off thefrustration at the limited scope for connection offered by existing social media and meet-and-chat apps. Lisahad hit a dead-end when it came to meeting people just to hang out with and enjoy commoninterests. “Dating is more than covered but there’s still a real need for community,” she says.“Given thatour generation is so technologically advanced and wants efficiency in everything, I couldn’t understandwhy there was still no user-friendly platformthat simplified the first step of saying ‘hello’ directly to aspecific, curated group,” Golukhova adds, “It’s not realistic to think this generation will cut out social media entirely, but our aim with Curated Community is to shift things away from the addictive, mindless scrolling to a positive force that helps in the real world.”
Curated Community is an app that acts like a member’s club in your pocket. Through gamified matchmaking, exclusive events, and partnerships with premium venues such as Harrods and Pachamama Group, the platform makes finding and meeting like-mindedpeopleeasy.Users answer daily quiz questions that refine their profiles, enabling more accurate and curated connections. By prioritising quality over quantity, the app ensures members aren’t just meeting people, they’re meeting the right people.
Unlike traditional social networks, Curated Community incentivises real-life interactions. When members make new connections they’re rewarded with social currency, earning Curated Community’s own digital ‘tokens’ which can be put towards discounts and promotions at the best bars and restaurants (always for two –this is social, after all). Moreover, with a philanthropic model at its core, the platform donates a percentage of earnings to local charities every month, ensuring that socialising also contributes to meaningful causes.
Since its launch in early 2024, Curated Community has rapidly expanded its presence in London, with plans to roll out to more cities globally. As an advocate for Gen Z entrepreneurship and female founders in techwith Lisa mentioning she is “doing it for my own generation because I know what we want to see”. Lisa is not only building an innovative platform but also paving the way for more women to make an impact in the technology space.
As we mark International Women’s Day, Lisa’s story is a testament to the power of innovation, determination, and community-building. She is redefining the future of social networking, one real world connection at a time.
The Curated Community app is available now on the App Store.
Instagram: @curated.comm
TikTok: @curatedcom
