A new app called Rodeo is aiming to tackle the perennial challenge of organizing social gatherings with existing friends, leveraging artificial intelligence to streamline the planning process. Developed by former Hinge executives, the app addresses the common difficulties faced in coordinating meetups amidst busy lives, parental duties, and numerous group chats.
Rodeo’s core functionality involves processing information from various sources like social media posts, event advertisements, or even screenshots of group conversations. It then intelligently extracts relevant details such as showtimes, locations, and ticketing information, transforming informal suggestions into concrete plans.
The app features a “wrangle” function, allowing users to easily send invitations to friends they wish to include in their planned activities. This feature simplifies the often cumbersome process of getting everyone on the same page and committed to an event.
Beyond immediate event planning, Rodeo enables users to create and manage collaborative lists of potential activities. These can range from saving restaurant recommendations for future date nights to compiling ideas for outings with old college friends, fostering shared decision-making.
While the founders, Sam Levy and Tim MacGougan, are discreet about the AI’s prominent role, it is the underlying artificial intelligence that distinguishes Rodeo. The app automates the tedious task of gathering event details, reducing manual effort and facilitating quicker plan execution compared to traditional methods.
Levy has described Rodeo as a “second brain” for social and family activity planning, drawing a parallel to the success of organizational tools like Notion and Obsidian. The app taps into the growing desire for efficient digital solutions to manage personal lives and relationships.
Rodeo is currently accessible through an invite-only beta program. Interested users can download the iOS application to join the waiting list for early access.
