By Titik Puspa 
Danielle Egan and Athena Leong, a dynamic duo known for their flair for the extraordinary, have officially launched Outernet, a groundbreaking startup poised to revolutionize how we discover and engage with the world around us. Their mission? To inject more fun and spontaneous adventure into everyday lives by bridging the gap between online inspiration and real-world experiences. This isn’t just another app; it’s a testament to their belief that the internet should be a catalyst for exploration, not just consumption.
Egan and Leong are no strangers to crafting memorable experiences. Their past endeavors paint a vivid picture of their innovative spirit. In San Francisco, they orchestrated a sprawling citywide scavenger hunt named "Pursuit," a testament to their ability to transform urban landscapes into playgrounds. This event, which has become an annual tradition, drew significant participation, with a remarkable 1.5% of the city’s population engaging in the month-long game during its most recent iteration. The success of "Pursuit" wasn’t just about solving clues; it revealed a deeper desire among participants to simply find compelling reasons to step outside and explore their surroundings. This realization served as a pivotal moment, planting the seed for Outernet.
Further showcasing their knack for creative social engagement, Egan and Leong transformed a viral prank into an exclusive, albeit temporary, dining experience. For one night, they curated an exclusive NYC restaurant, turning a fleeting internet trend into a tangible, sought-after event. Their inventiveness also extended to redefining social gatherings for those who might not find traditional running clubs appealing. They pioneered the "sit club," an unconventional social activity where participants simply gather with their chairs to relax and connect, offering a refreshing alternative to high-energy pursuits. These experiences underscore their core philosophy: fun, spontaneity, and human connection are paramount.
The name "Outernet" itself is a clever portmanteau, encapsulating their vision of leveraging the internet ("internet") to encourage users to venture outdoors ("outer"). The app functions as a sophisticated digital scrapbook and planner, designed to capture fleeting inspirations found online and transform them into actionable plans for real-world exploration. Users can seamlessly save local events, intriguing restaurants or bars, and captivating city landmarks discovered across various social media platforms and websites.
The core proposition of Outernet is elegantly simple yet profoundly effective. Instead of merely "liking" a post on social media about a place to visit or an event to attend, users are encouraged to share it directly to the Outernet app. This action transforms a passive digital interaction into an active commitment to experiencing something tangible. Within Outernet’s organized interface, these saved items are meticulously tracked, serving as a personalized roadmap for future adventures.
What truly sets Outernet apart in a crowded app market, alongside competitors like Albo, Tabi, and Plotline, is the unique pedigree of its founders. Egan, whose professional background includes product BizOps at LinkedIn, brings a strategic mindset, but her personal passion lies in igniting people’s desire for offline engagement. "In my free time, I’m very passionate about getting people to go outside and do things," Egan explains. "I just love capturing attention in unexpected ways and delivering delightful things." She articulates the app’s central thesis as becoming the "motivation engine for IRL" – a system designed to eliminate the friction between the desire to do something and the actual execution of that desire.
Leong, with her background in computer science and child development, coupled with experience in adventure game design, complements Egan’s vision with a deep understanding of user engagement and intuitive design. Together, they have cultivated an app that doesn’t just organize information but actively fosters a spirit of exploration.
The mechanism for capturing these inspirations is designed for effortless integration into existing digital habits. When users encounter something interesting on platforms like TikTok or Instagram, they can utilize the share function and select Outernet from the list of available apps. Alternatively, users can directly paste URLs from social media or websites into the app, or even upload a photo of a flyer or advertisement that catches their eye.
Once an item is saved, Outernet employs artificial intelligence to intelligently extract crucial details. This includes dates, times, locations, and any relevant descriptive information about the event or place. This AI-powered organization ensures that users have all the necessary information at their fingertips. Events with specific dates are automatically added to a chronological feed, providing a clear overview of upcoming activities. Other saved items, such as places to visit or activities without a fixed date, are categorized into separate, easily navigable tabs. For seamless integration into daily planning, Outernet also offers the convenience of saving events directly to a user’s Apple or Google Calendar.
Beyond simple organization, Outernet actively encourages users to turn their saved plans into reality. The app is equipped to send proactive reminders and gentle nudges, serving as timely prompts to explore that restaurant, attend that concert, or visit that landmark they’ve been meaning to. This feature is designed to combat the common pitfall of saving something online and subsequently forgetting about it amidst the constant deluge of digital content.
As users embark on their real-world adventures, Outernet introduces a rewarding element of personal accomplishment. Upon visiting a saved place or attending an event, users can "stamp" it within the app. This action contributes to the creation of a personal "passport" – a digital chronicle of their explorations and experiences. Egan elaborates on future product plans, envisioning a more robust passport feature that could include sharing capabilities with friends and fostering a sense of pride in their accumulated adventures. The team is also exploring traditional gamification techniques, such as awarding virtual stamps for reaching different milestones, further incentivizing engagement and exploration.
The genesis of Outernet can be traced back to the profound insights gained during the development of their "Pursuit" scavenger hunt. The founders observed that participants were motivated not solely by the thrill of the game itself, but by the fundamental desire for an "excuse to go outside." Leong articulates this discovery: "We just realized that people really have an appetite for doing things, like going on adventures. This is the new trend." This realization cemented their belief in the untapped market for facilitating real-world experiences.
Egan further emphasizes their role as community connectors: "There are so many incredible community events, and being community organizers ourselves, we’re very plugged into that scene." She highlights the disconnect between passionate local organizers and potential attendees. "What’s so hard is there are these boots on the ground – incredible community organizers who are hosting these amazing events, and they just don’t know how to reach people because marketing and grabbing people’s attention is such a different skill set. And that’s something that we are exceptional in. So we see ourselves as the conduit." Outernet aims to bridge this gap, empowering local organizers to reach wider audiences and helping individuals discover the vibrant tapestry of events happening around them.
Launched approximately two months ago, Outernet has already demonstrated promising traction, achieving profitability through its premium subscription service. For $6.99 per month or $39.99 annually, users can unlock enhanced features, including the ability to save an unlimited number of items. The app currently boasts around 18,000 users, and the team is actively engaged in rapid experimentation with new features and user engagement strategies.
Egan and Leong are currently in discussions with potential investors, prioritizing those who align with their "whimsical" approach to building a company focused on joy and discovery. "We want to bring on investors – if we do – [who are] people who are really aligned with us," Leong states. "We’re whimsical, and we have to find investors that match." This selective approach underscores their commitment to maintaining the unique culture and mission that defines Outernet.
Outernet is currently an invite-only application available on iOS, with an Android waitlist already open. For TechCrunch readers eager to bypass the waitlist, the exclusive invite code "coffeewalk" is provided. This strategic launch and invitation-only model not only generates buzz but also allows the team to carefully manage growth and gather targeted user feedback, ensuring a robust and refined user experience as the platform evolves. The app’s trajectory suggests a significant potential to reshape how individuals interact with their environments, transforming passive digital consumption into active, fulfilling real-world engagement.
