Read the pitch decks of 13 startups looking to disrupt dating apps and social networking that have raised millions

Tech Insider : Business, Economy
Money in the shape of a heart

iStock; Rebecca Zisser/BI

My family moved to a small town 8 years ago. It's been mostly great, but it's been hard to make friends as an adult.

Tech Insider : Business
A man sitting in bed looking out the window in the morning.
The author (not pictured) has found it difficult to make friends since moving to a small town.

Justin Paget/Getty Images

I experienced loneliness after I retired. Starting a small group at my senior center changed everything.

Tech Insider : Economy, Business
Joe Lamy
Joe Lamy is helping people across the country meet with others in their community and foster consistent social interactions.

Courtesy of Joe Lamy

When millionaires lose friends, it's often chalked up to envy. The truth is more complicated.

Tech Insider : Business
Lane Kawaoka; Joy Slabaugh; Lisa Johnson; Jeremy Barker
Newfound wealth can often complicate relationships with friends and family.

Desmond Centro, Joanna Kulesza, Tori Ferenc, Niki Chan Wylie for BI

I was the first person in my friend group to have kids. At first, I was lonely, but then they started asking me for advice.

Tech Insider : Business
A mother holds her baby in her arms.

d3sign/Getty Images

I loved the brotherhood of being a firefighter. Once I became a millionaire, I no longer felt like one of the crew.

Tech Insider : Business, Sports
Jeremy Barker
Jeremy Barker is the founder and CEO of Murphy Door.

Niki Chan Wylie for BI

As a mother, I'm constantly surrounded by people, but I still feel lonely. I'm often too distracted to connect.

Tech Insider : Business, Sports
The author poses with her family on a baseball field.
Though she's often surrounded by people, the author (pictured with her family) says she still experiences loneliness.

Courtesy of Nicole Schildt

After moving to Alabama for my husband's job, I was lonely. The key to making friends was being the one to make plans.

Tech Insider : Business
The author with four friends showing off watercolors they'd created in their watercolor club.
The author, right, hosts themed parties for friends, including a watercolor party.

Courtesy of Alyssa Hakanson

I struggled to make and keep friends as a millionaire. Now, I can only connect with other wealthy people.

Tech Insider : Business
Lane Kawaoka
The author is a millionaire who struggled with friendships at first.

Desmond Centro for BI

This essay is part of Lonely at the Top, a series that examines the link between wealth and loneliness.

I moved home after a breakup and felt like a failure. Joining a gym helped me find my partner and make close friends.

Tech Insider : Business
A woman sitting outside
Katie McDonald, 29, moved back home after a breakup when she was 22. She joined a luxury gym with the money she saved.

Katie McDonald

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