Solo Connects launches Like To Find app

After listening to thousands of singles, the founders of Solo Connects believe they've found what's missing from modern dating.

Rachel Allen and Samantha Poole, the founders behind the region's fastest-growing singles community, Solo Connects, have today launched Like To Find – a community-led introductions platform designed to help people build meaningful relationships beyond one event, one message or one swipe.

Over the past 20 months, the pair have organised almost 200 events across Milton Keynes, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Northamptonshire, through their business, Solo Connects, welcoming more than 6,000 single people looking for both friendship and lasting relationships with that special someone.

But while their events have brought thousands of people together, Rachel and Samantha realised there was still one problem they couldn't solve.

Sometimes the right person simply wasn't in the room.

Sometimes nerves got in the way of starting a conversation.

Sometimes work, childcare or life meant people couldn't make the event at all.

Rather than building another dating app, the two founders decided to build something completely different.

Like To Find is a community-led introductions membership that extends the Solo Connects experience beyond event night. Built around shared interests, genuine profiles and local connections, it helps members discover compatible people across the wider Solo Connects community while keeping real-life connection at the heart of the experience.

The platform is not driven by algorithms, but by hundreds of conversations with the people who matter most – the community itself.

"We didn't set out to build technology; we are a people business, so we’ve built something that isn’t driven by an algorithm, but puts people and connection first" said Rachel Allen, co-founder of Solo Connects and Like To Find.

Rachel’s co-founder, Samantha Poole adds: “As two single mums, we've experienced every single frustration that comes with modern dating, from the swiping fatigue to the ghosting – and we hear so many people feel the same. So, we spent the last 20 months listening to our community before building, and we are so proud that Like To Find is the result of everything our wonderful community of singles has taught us."

Unlike traditional dating apps that focus on quick decisions and endless scrolling, Like To Find encourages members to build detailed profiles based on their interests, lifestyle and values, making it easier to discover people they're genuinely likely to connect with.

The platform also includes innovative features that support real-life dating, including exclusive After Party access for members following selected Solo Connects events and a Meet Again feature, allowing people to reconnect after an event without the pressure of exchanging phone numbers on the night.

The founders say one of the biggest lessons they've learned is that people behave differently when they've already met face-to-face.

"One thing we've noticed time and again is that people often tell us their dates through Solo Connects feel more respectful than experiences they've had through traditional dating apps," said Samantha.

"We think that's because people have already met each other in person and value being part of a genuine community. They behave better – even if a relationship doesn’t work out long-term – because they’ve already met the person in real life and it’s not just another profile on a screen. There's an unspoken expectation that people treat each other with kindness and respect.”

Research suggests that attitudes towards online dating are changing. According to Ofcom, Tinder lost around 600,000 UK users in a single year, while millions of Britons continue to use online dating services, highlighting a growing appetite for different ways to meet people. Like To Find has been created to complement real-life dating rather than replace it.

The response has already been encouraging, with more than 100 members joining during the first week following launch.

Rachel believes this is only the beginning.

"Although dating apps have helped millions of people to meet online, we believe the future of dating is about building communities.

People don't just want more matches. They want better connections.

We've spent nearly two years proving that meeting in person still works. Like To Find simply makes those real-life connections easier to continue.

We want single people to spend less time swiping and more time living.”

Official Launch Event

The official Like To Find launch takes place on Friday 7 August at Unity Sky Lounge, Milton Keynes, from 7.30pm.

The free celebration event will welcome Solo Connects members alongside invited guests who would like to discover the next chapter of the business. Guests will have the opportunity to meet the founders, see the new platform in action and hear more about the vision behind Like To Find.

You can find out more about the event here.

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About Like To Find

Like To Find is a community-led introductions membership created by the founders of Solo Connects. Built around shared interests, genuine local connections and real-life experiences, it helps singles discover friendship, companionship and meaningful relationships while connecting with a wider community through events and activities.

Download the Like ToFind app: https://app.liketofind.co.uk

About Solo Connects

Founded in late 2024 by Rachel Allen and Samantha Poole, Solo Connects is the region’s fastest-growing singles community, organising almost 200 events and welcoming more than 6,000 attendees across Milton Keynes, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Northamptonshire. Solo Connects’ mission is to help single people feel less alone and create genuine connections whether that’s dating or friendship.

Find out more at www.soloconnects.co.uk