Meetup
A platform for finding local and online groups and events around shared interests: tech, books, sport, languages, hiking, faith, career and more. Joining groups and attending events as a member is free; some groups charge their own dues. It suits anyone who has moved to a new city or country, or wants to meet people outside their usual circle.
Community
Mentorship
Meetup
Events you choose
All
Free
What it is
Meetup is a website and app where people organise groups around shared interests and run events, both in person and online. Search your city and you will find groups for developers, startups, book clubs, language exchange, running, board games, photography, newcomers and more. It is one of the easiest ways to meet people when you have moved for university or work.
What you get
- Search by interest and location, with upcoming events listed by date.
- Free membership. Meetup's help centre says members can join unlimited groups and attend events for free. Some organisers charge dues or a small event fee, and an optional Meetup+ subscription adds extras you do not need.
- Online events if there is nothing near you yet.
- Organiser tools if you want to start a group yourself; Meetup offers students a free six-month organiser subscription when they sign up with an eligible student email.
Who it suits
Students in a new city, people who have moved abroad, anyone who feels lonely after university friends scattered, and early-career engineers who want to meet people in tech outside work. How active it is depends on your city: large cities usually have many groups, smaller ones fewer.
How to use it well
- Pick one recurring group, not many one-off events. Friendships come from seeing the same people again.
- Go three times before deciding whether a group is for you.
- Arrive early; it is easier to talk to two people than to a full room.
- Stay safe: meet in public places, tell a friend where you are going, and leave if something feels wrong.
- Help out with setup or as a volunteer; it is the fastest way to become a regular.
Pair it with on Sefism
- Building your support system covers loneliness, making friends in a new city or abroad, and finding communities and mentors.
- Speaking and being heard covers small talk and networking.
- Building real confidence helps if walking into a room of strangers feels hard.
- Ask Tauseef a question if you want advice on your own situation.
Best for: finding real-world groups to meet people with shared interests, wherever you live.
Ready to start?
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Stuck on something specific?
Writing only gets you so far. If you want an answer to your situation rather than the general case, book a session and we will work through it together. Sessions are free for approved Sefism members, and a few slots open each week.
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