if you’re new to a city or looking to make new friends, it can be REALLY hard to start from zero. this was my first time in this situation in my mid 30s: like yes, you can go to events and join clubs and stuff, but it’s daunting to go alone and approach strangers- especially since they’re often in groups already. I’m generally an outgoing person, but still find it terrifying to make the first move in the wild. I also realized making new friends is kind of like applying for jobs- easier if you’re already employed, since it takes the desperation out of your vibe lol. timeleft takes all the sting out of that first step by grouping you with other people who WANT to meet people. I went to a women-only dinner with a fun/interesting mix of people around my age, and by the end of the night we had set up a group chat and made plans together for the weekend. I loved the supportive group dynamic and intention behind it- individually we may not have found a ton in common, but as a group everyone was so welcoming and accepting of each other (also feels lower stakes than trying to friend-date 1:1). the app itself is not the best, kind of buggy and limited, but it doesn’t need to be that feature-rich IMO when the point is making IRL connections. I signed up for a membership and look forward to expanding my circle more, but my first group will always be very dear to me! I’m so grateful to this app for allowing me to settle into my new home with a safe space to socialize!🩷

I downloaded the app months ago but never signed up for a dinner until tonight. I'd opened the app and started the registration process numerous times, but never finalized it. The closest dinner was two hours away, a significant hurdle. I hope future dinners will be closer to home, but for now, the two-hour drive is what it takes.Last week, I finally overcame my hesitation and completed the registration. Despite finalizing it, I remained anxious, unsure of what to expect. On the day of the dinner, a winter storm added another challenge to the two-hour drive. I decided to book a hotel room and proceed with the reservation.The Italian restaurant, located in the heart of downtown, offered a diverse and reasonably priced menu. Arriving early, I received a warm welcome from the staff, who were aware of my Time Left reservation and made me feel comfortable while I waited for the others.As more people arrived, we introduced ourselves and made small talk. Soon, the conversation flowed easily and comfortably. After dinner, some of us decided to attend the suggested after-dinner mixer. Although the original location was closed, we connected with other Time Left members and arranged an alternative gathering spot. Our group of six quickly grew to over twenty. The mixer was relaxed and friendly.I left that evening knowing I'll definitely attend another dinner. I connected with many people I genuinely believe will become good friends. All it took was saying yes to something new.

An extremely interesting concept for people who do not know anybody in the area. The app needs some fine tuning to make the experience a bit more streamlined and clear. The after drinks meetup location was fully booked and my group and another Timeleft group both couldn’t get in which made it awkward as some people were considering just leaving, but we had someone in our group who could navigate us to a new location as she was from the area. The restaurant selected was out of the price range I selected and I ended up spending a lot more money than anticipated. The game questions and the rhythm of the evening is a bit off. If dinner is at 7pm, and the drinks location is 8pm, one hour is not enough time to get to know a table of people. For our dinner they did not even take our order until around 7:40pm. Additionally, the restaurant did not allow us to pay individually. Some members of our group did not drink, and some ordered more expensively than others which stressed out the situation for a solid 20 minutes trying to figure out who had Venmo, who had PayPal, and who could afford a charge for a $500 bill. It brought the vibe down a bit and created some confusion. Overall I would try the app again, and be wary that the projected pacing of the evening that the app suggests is incorrect, and that your restaurant experiences may not be as expected.

Update: I do appreciate the developers response and I agree there are many other businesses that do not remind you of an upcoming subscription renewal but any large purchase (more than a few dollars) should come with a reminder to reassess. In my case I’m in a class right now that have assignments due every Wednesday and I just can’t make dinners on that night. Great companies who remind you of upcoming renewals and auto ships: Viome, Chewy, & Tuesdays Natural Dog company. Unfortunately I agree many others would rather charge you instead of giving time to reassess/reschedule/postpone. Thank you for refunding me and I’ll be back when my schedule allows for it. All of my experiences with this service were very positive until my subscription renewed without any warning and my card was charged. Any reputable company is going to notify you that your account is about to renew so you have time to re-evaluate if it’s right for you to continue. I have contacted this company to ask for a refund and cancellation after being billed today but according to their website they don’t offer refunds. As the subject line says: this is an unscrupulous company.