Playground App launches AI-powered discovery platform to connect people through virtual events and activism

Playground App, backed by ad agency Anomaly, is thrilled to launch its new iPhone and Android apps today, marking a pivot from its previous life as a personalized event curator to a virtual experience and activism discovery app. Current features let users follow friends’ playlists and make plans in a transformed world, while functional tools like ticketing, livestream linking, SMS reminders, and calendar syncing serve both sides of the new virtual events marketplace. The team works with two AI advisors from IBM’s Watson team to develop algorithms that match users with events (and new friends) that suit their interests, while also taking them outside their comfort zones.

With most large gatherings canceled this year -- many of which are pillars of community, art and culture -- and with a historical uprising quickly defining 2020, there has never been a better time to untangle, curate and present the mass web of experiences and activism activities permeating our social news feeds.

Playground is solving the problem of curation and discoverability, while helping creators and activists get paid and connecting communities that may not have typically interacted.  Prominent cultural influencers -- including Nupol Kiazolu, leading civil rights activist and founder of Vote 2000, a campaign to register the next generation of voters  -- will design their own curated Playlists. Other official curators span different corners of the globe,  including leaders at top art and culture organizations like Frieze Art Fair, Comedy Central, and Wonderfruit Festival.

Kiazolu, who was Miss Liberia USA, says about Playground: “Playground is launching at the perfect time as a cohesive platform tailored to the needs of frontline organizers. Specifically, it’s been instrumental in helping Black Lives Matter activists, like myself, share ad hoc events that are popping up all over the web. For the Virtual March on Washington, we are using the platform to activate our community before, during and after the event. And because the app curates events from all aspects of culture, we’re able to share our mission alongside other communities in art, wellness, comedy and more. I am so happy to be a part of this platform as a Gen Z Activist and Organizer!”

The intuitive functionality of Playground feels like a hybrid of a social connection app (swipe through potential events) and Spotify (curated event Playlists). Playground’s algorithm is designed to make it easier for users to discover and keep track of experiences and activities that best match their lifestyles and mood. The queue updates daily with a series of vetted and curated virtual experiences.

Playground is launching today with expert Curators from diverse backgrounds across music, wellness, activism, comedy and art. Users from around the world will now be able to discover and access  virtual experiences hand-picked by culture purveyors, like:  Jessica Hodin Levy, Art Curator & Partnerships Manager, Frieze Art Fair; Mikala Knezevich, Comedy Programmer & Former Producer, “This Week at the Comedy Cellar” on Comedy Central; Guillaume Maquilles, Head of Music, Wonderfruit Festival; Speaker, author and wellness leader, Sah D’Simon.

Playground Founder & CEO, Linda Yang, is an award-winning creative director and entrepreneur who has translated her background leading creative campaigns for brands like Google, YouTube, Facebook, E! Entertainment and Converse into a digital playground of curated culture and connection.

Yang says about her pivot: “We were previously focused on events that bring people together offline, with the intention of cultivating real-life connections in a digital world. Now, with the global pandemic and a powerful social uprising, it’s a natural pivot for us to address the overwhelm many of us have felt in the context of connecting virtually, while navigating thousands of events, activities, and protests. Shared experiences that promote more empathy, connection, community and play are so needed right now. Our hope is that we can make discovering these experiences a lot easier.”

Funded by top ad agency, Anomaly, Playground’s advisory board includes execs from Eventbrite, Splash, IBM and Flavorpill.

Playground can be downloaded today on iOS and Android. 



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About Playground App

Founded in 2019 , Playground App is an event discovery platform with a focus on personalization and curation. The app pivoted in 2020, to connect people  through virtual experiences in verticals like art, music, comedy, and activism. The app features Event Playlists by official Playground Curators, who are considered  lead programmers and influencers within their communities. The beta version of Playground App allows users to follow friends’ playlists and make plans in a transformed world, while functional tools like ticketing, SMS reminders, and calendar syncing serve both sides of the virtual events marketplace.

Contact Information

Teresa Bigelow

Founder

Spiral5

teresa@spiral5.com