CircleUp was created by James Telfer, an architecture graduate who lives in Bath.
He came up with the idea in 2024 while travelling in South America.
The 27-year-old said he had struggled to build friendships after moving to Bath, but found it easier to connect with people while abroad.
For a subscription fee, the app lists a range of events including pub nights out, sporting events, coffee mornings, board game nights and day trips.
Telfer said he had been “very worried” the scheme – which launched with a pub night in Bath – would not work.
“I had no idea what would happen or whether it would just be a one-off and people would disappear and you wouldn’t see them again, but I think it kind of struck a chord with people,” he said.
“It’s so hard to build up a great social life from scratch. The big insight of CircleUp is that it is providing social infrastructure.”