Founder letter

I’m writing this letter sitting Indian style (or criss-cross applesauce — whichever you prefer) in a tent somewhere near the Carrizo Plain. The group I’m riding with is still up and telling stories punctuated with easy chuckles and full-on belly laughs. They’re sitting around a red lamp that gives the essence of a fire and is a reminder that, even though we’re in the middle of nowhere, we’re still living in a different time.

Long days on the moto give me the perspective and clarity that people usually associate with mediation. I have a soft focus while humming across long stretches of back roads and it’s where my mind likes to be. What’s important bubbles to the surface and the rest falls away. It was this kind of trip where the original idea for Rally came from. The question that kept surfacing was, “why is it so hard to connect with other riders?”.

At the time, I was an entrepreneur at Nike Valiant Labs which is Nike’s new business incubator. I started Rally because of the need I saw to make it easier for likeminded people to connect. I also felt that I have the experience, and most importantly know some amazing people who would jump in and help, so we would have a good shot at pulling it off.

For most of us, finding friends (aka your community) is something we’ll do the rest of our lives. Maybe we move to a new city, take up a new activity, maybe your reliable surf buddy has a baby, or whatever the situation. When these shifts happen, we’re left searching for connection and there’s no script, not really even a hint as for how to go about finding it.

Often we turn to social media for connection and don’t find it. Social media platforms are media companies so their inventive is to keep our attention, to keep us scrolling. When participating in social media, we’re more of an audience or a consumer than a member of a community. They need our attention to fuel their business model and reward those who consistently shovel content into their feed.

What we’re building at Rally is very different. We’re a community app instead of social media. What we care about is getting you connected in real life, where you’ll share experiences, find moments of awe, find authentic connection, and make the memories that will define the best moments of your life. Technology, like the super-computer in your pocket, should enhance your real life and be in service to keeping you connected after the trip and while planning the next one.

We don’t have it all figured out but I think we’re on the right path. There’s nothing I’d rather be doing than waking up and working on this mission with our talented team who I enjoy working alongside. I hope you’ll join us for the ride!