Get early access to Troov, the activity-based social app launching soon in DC

In a region filled with busy professionals, students and transplants, a new platform will soon join the ranks of other meetup-enabling tech companies trying to help them meet one another. 

Troov, a social app developer based in Austin, Texas, focuses on connecting people one-on-one through activities. Here’s how it works: Users post an idea of an outing with a time and place, which other users can see in a “discover” tab of the app. People can filter on attributes like cost and location, technical cofounder Dustin Godevais explained. There are three modes, too: friends, dates and “collaboration.” 

Troov is set to open to the DC public on May 12, but Technical.ly readers can get early access by downloading through this link and using the referral code “TLYDC.”

The platform uses artificial intelligence for suggesting matches in the app and community moderation, per Godevais. For matches, it’ll pull data from previous activity on the app from that user, he said. 

Why build the app around activities? He sees it as a way for people to make more genuine connections. 

“We wanted to make it more activity-centric and involving what people actually like to do in the world,” Godevais, an Austin resident, told Technical.ly.  “Which I think is a more authentic representation of oneself anyway.”

This isn’t the only social app to launch in the region of late. DC-based Outerly, which uses AI to match users looking to take trips into nature, just expanded its reach into Baltimore. InPress, a news-focused dating and friends app, also launched in the district in 2024. 

Troov is different from most dating and social apps because of its focus on in-person activities and not individual profiles, Godevais said. The level of personalization also distinguishes it from Facebook groups. 

Cofounder Sharon Cao, who lives in DC’s Petworth neighborhood, wants locals to help shape the app experience for regional users. 

Cao previously cofounded the HR tech platform Happied, whose tech helps users facilitate virtual, in-person and hybrid events. Once her and CEO April Johnson’s startup reached milestones like $8 million in revenue, she wanted to embark on a new project. Cao is still involved in Happied, she said. 

“I’ve been thinking a lot about building a social app or something to better facilitate in-person meetups or friendships,” Cao told Technical.ly. “Because the world is lonely.” 

Troov initially launched in Austin, where it has about 200 users. It currently limits its user base there to only those with invites and people using .edu email addresses, Godevais explained. This closed model makes people more comfortable, he believes.  

Cao saw DC as a prime second launch city because of the sheer number of universities, plus the amount of tourism in the region. 

“If you’re a traveler and you’re here for a couple of days, you want to hang out with a local, right?” she said. 

Forging partnerships to drive engagement

The cofounders are working with community organizations and local businesses to get more users involved. 

Godevais said he’s also embedding a point system in Troov, where users would be incentivized to do activities through the app. They would then get discounts on products or gift cards from participating businesses. 

“People who might go out and do fun things anyway are now feeling like they’re getting rewarded,” he said, “and they can compete against each other, and that interactivity gets unlocked.”

Troov is also working on establishing partnerships with local organizations, but there are no official agreements yet, said Cao. 

In terms of capital, the duo raised $98,000 on Wefunder, mostly through friends and family. They are debating raising through venture capital, but acknowledged the challenging environment for early-stage startups.   

Overall, Cao and Godevais are excited about the app’s potential. There are incumbent social platforms like Facebook and Instagram, but there’s room for new ideas, Godevais asserted. That’s where Troov comes in. 

“There’s going to be a new wave of interactivity and consumer products coming out that might be the next generation of big companies or products,” Godevais said. “We’re excited to be a part of that.”