Foldin Opens Public Beta: A Real-Life Social Network

New platform aims to turn scrolling into stepping out with a 3-step flow.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 6:24pm

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A highly detailed, glowing 3D illustration of a digital map interface with location pins and event markers illuminated by vibrant neon lights, conceptually representing Foldin's mission to connect the online and offline worlds.Foldin's digital platform aims to encourage users to step out of their comfort zones and engage with their local communities in the real world.NYC Today

Foldin.space, a location-based social platform founded by Lilis Huri, has opened its public beta after a month in closed beta. The platform introduces a three-step flow designed to encourage users to step out of their comfort zones and engage with their local communities: Step Out, Find Out, and Show Up.

Why it matters

Foldin is designed as an alternative to feed-based social apps that keep users scrolling, instead focusing on getting people to physically engage with their surroundings and connect in the real world. The platform aims to lower the barrier for people who may find 'showing up' difficult by breaking the process into smaller, less intimidating steps.

The details

The Foldin platform allows users to 'Pin Down' their favorite local spots, 'Find Out' about nearby events and activities, and then 'Show Up' to experience them in person. The platform has already built a community of 17,000 waitlist users, 260+ hosted events, and 22 brand and community partners across 5 cities.

  • Foldin.space opened its public beta on April 20, 2026.
  • The platform had been in closed beta for 1 month prior to the public launch.

The players

Foldin

A location-based social platform founded by Lilis Huri that aims to encourage real-world engagement and community building.

Lilis Huri

The founder and CEO of Foldin, who describes herself as an introverted founder who understands the difficulty some people face in 'showing up' and designed the platform's 3-step flow to address that.

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What they’re saying

“I'm an introverted founder. I understand, for some people showing up is scary, hence why Foldin has a pin down for people to step out of their comfort zone before committing to a meet up.”

— Lilis Huri, Founder & CEO, Foldin

The takeaway

Foldin's approach of breaking the process of real-world engagement into smaller, less intimidating steps could help address the challenges many people face in physically connecting with their local communities, especially in an era dominated by feed-based social media apps.