# Gen Z Social Platform Expansions IRL App is Expanding Its Social Calendar to Colleges By Grace Mahas | Published 2020-09-24 | Life-Stages Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/irl-app References: [irl](https://www.irl.com/?G) The IRL App, which stands for In Real Life, is a leading social calendar and event discovery platform designed to unite folks over common interests. The brand recently announced a $16M Series B Round led by Goodwater Capital to expand its platform to colleges and beyond the United States. “IRL is the only social platform that helps users find the best ways to spend their time and actually encourages them to get off the platform,” said Abraham Shafi, Founder and CEO of IRL. “Colleges and universities, in particular, need a way to build and foster a sense of community, whether their students are away from campus remote learning or on campus practicing hybrid learning. We’ve already seen a great response from students using IRL to manage events on campus. This new funding will allow us to expand IRL’s platform, help students create lasting memories and friendships through shared experiences, and look towards international markets.” Image Credit: IRL ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 6.0/10 - Popularity: 75% | Activity: 96% | Freshness: 9% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Life-Stages](https://www.trendhunter.com/life-stages) > [Youth](https://www.trendhunter.com/youth) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **College Social Platforms:** Expanding social calendar and event discovery platforms to colleges and universities. - **Community-building Apps:** Designing social platforms that foster a sense of community and encourage shared experiences. - **Hybrid Learning Event Management:** Developing event management platforms that cater to hybrid learning models. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Education Technology:** Creating social platforms for colleges and universities that emphasize community-building and event management. - **Event Management:** Designing platforms that manage hybrid and in-person events for colleges and universities. - **Social Networking:** Developing social platforms that encourage users to connect in-person and engage in shared experiences. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Gamified Video Dating Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/irly.md) - [Viral Social Shopping Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/claim-app.md) - [Real-World Connection Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dayone-irl-dating-app.md) - [IRL Dating Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/blush-app.md) - [College-Focused Social Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tiktoks-campus-verification.md) - [Gen Z-Centered Health Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/rtro-1.md) - [Gen Z IRL Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hinges-phonebook.md) - [Gen Z Anti-Loneliness Funds](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gen-z-antiloneliness-funds.md) - [IRL Dating App Events](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dating-app-thursday.md)