The Mayo App - Creating Purposeful, Supportive, In-Person relationships beyond Screens

Fighting Social Isolation in 2020 and Beyond, one In-Person Connection at a Time

In an era filled with digital relationships and social isolation, physical in-person communications with neighbors and local strangers seem to be a thing of the past.  Ironically, the people that can help the quickest when we are in any trouble are the people physically closest to us.  Technology can get us personally connected to many strangers internationally, but the team at Mayo believes that one thing that technology should be helping us do more of is to connect with strangers within our close physical presence through helping each other.

Mayo is an app built and marketed by 20 people and the Heroic Together Community.  Headquartered in Seattle and founded in 2018 by Allen Chan, a designer that formerly worked at Microsoft and Amazon.  Chan’s app went on to be selected for the Third WTIA Founder Cohort and praised in Millennial Moderator for its small area focus and unique model which in turn makes “the accountability of users...much higher, and the sense of interacting and being able to see real people heightens.” The Millennial Moderator also adds that what Mayo does for its users can help them develop communication skills necessary for interactions in college, at work, and in their industry.

How to get and give help with Mayo

Mayo’s mission is summed up as the following on their ProductHunt.com page: “Help your community. Feel Happier.”  The app itself is very user-friendly; all someone needs to do is post a request or offer for help; this can be anything such as looking for a lost wallet, asking for help on a college assignment, borrowing a charger, ask directions, or even saying you just want to spend time with someone.  People with a 2-block radius would reply within an hour and can work out the details via the texting feature within the app. This straightforward use removes social barriers and makes introductions easy.  Additionally, there no need to sign-up for an account or set up a profile, and the app offers ‘Kudos points’ for future rewards.  Similar to Uber, users of Mayo can also review the experience of those providing assistance.

Mayo during the Coronavirus Pandemic and Beyond

Chan encourages people in communities to invite them to use the app and to spread the word online and in-person wherever possible, in addition to sharing positive “Mayo Moments” of people using the app.  As the app is very useful in high-population environments, Chan has considered integrating the platform in meet-up environments and universities.  In the meantime, Chan and his team are continuously improving the app to increase genuine real-world connections for people.

Mayo is also taking steps to be of assistance during the Coronavirus Pandemic. They share articles on their blog on how to ask for help, and how to help others while also staying safe.  

“...Some people are desperately hungry. Some people cannot afford medical treatment. Most people are living paycheck-to-paycheck. These are the 'overlooked' who are most affected by this global pandemic. Now is the time to stop, reflect, and offer help to those who need it the most.”  

The team at Mayo developed an app to create a positive social impact on others; now is the time where people need those positive social impacts the most.

Interested in helping with Mayo’s product, business, and community development?  You can contact them via this link and contribute to a world where it’s easy for people to ask and provide help.  

Join us at our Hack To Give Thanks this upcoming November 21 to help projects just like Mayo!