We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Emily Lintott a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Emily, appreciate you joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

Let’s Be Friends was born out of a deep personal need for connection. Bridget Sullivan started the group in 2020 after realizing how difficult it was to make genuine friendships as an adult, especially when moving to a new city. Emily Lintott joined at the beginning of 2024, and together we’ve watched the group grow into a community of over 7,600 women who come together to support each other, attend events, and form lasting relationships.

This mission is so meaningful to us because it reflects our own experiences of isolation and the challenges of forming friendships as adults. We know firsthand how loneliness can affect mental health and well-being, and that’s why we’re driven to create opportunities for women to connect in real life.

Our group breaks down barriers to build authentic friendships in an era where social media can sometimes take the place of real connections. We believe that strong friendships and a sense of belonging are essential to living a fulfilling life, and that’s what inspires us to keep organizing events and growing the Let’s Be Friends community.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Let’s Be Friends focuses on creating opportunities for women to connect through a variety of events and social gatherings. We host events each month, ranging from casual hangouts to large-scale gatherings, providing a platform for members to bond over shared interests and experiences. Our mission is to combat loneliness and promote mental well-being by cultivating a supportive environment where friendships can flourish.

What sets Let’s Be Friends apart is our commitment to inclusivity and authenticity. We believe in creating a space where every woman feels valued and welcomed, regardless of her background or life stage. Our community thrives on the connections formed in person during events and through our vibrant online platform.

As co-founders, it is extremely rewarding for us to see the impact Let’s Be Friends has on our members’ lives. Hearing stories of new friendships and witnessing the positive changes in people’s mental health motivates us to keep growing this initiative. We want potential followers and new members to know that Let’s Be Friends is more than just a social group; it’s a movement dedicated to building a network of women who uplift and inspire one another. We understand that it can be intimidating to jump into a new environment without knowing anyone, but many attendees are first-timers who leave with great new connections. We offer events and activities for all interests, life stages, and ages, reminding everyone that meaningful connections are possible, no matter where they are in life.

How’d you meet your business partner?

From Emily’s Perspective:
Bridget and I met back in January 2024 during a brainstorming session for Let’s Be Friends, and we connected right away. I jumped in to help with event graphics and organizing things for the group shortly after. It was actually my first in-person event, even though I’d been part of the online community for a bit. I had moved to Indianapolis about a year before and was struggling to find my place, even though some of my college friends were in the area. I was feeling super lonely, and it was tough to make the city feel like home. I even adopted a dog, thinking that might help, but as much as I love my pets, nothing really replaces real friendships. Meeting Bridget and getting involved with Let’s Be Friends turned everything around for me, and I’ve seen it do the same for so many other women.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Bridget and I are in the middle of a pretty big pivot with Let’s Be Friends right now. What started as a passion project has grown so much that we knew we couldn’t keep running it the same way. We’ve been managing everything in our free time, but with the demand for more events and members steadily growing, we had to make the decision to turn this into an official business.

We just recently formed Let’s Be Friends LLC, and while we’re excited about the potential, we’re also navigating a lot of new territory. We’ve had to dive into everything from legal paperwork to figuring out how to manage finances, all while trying to keep our focus on what makes the group special – creating meaningful connections. It’s a bit overwhelming, but we know this pivot is necessary to keep growing and continue offering valuable experiences for our community. We’re learning as we go, but we’re confident this move will allow us to take Let’s Be Friends to the next level.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/letsbefriendsindy/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/letsbefriendsindy
• Other: LinkTree – https://linktr.ee/letsbefriendsindy?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaZZB_ODUg95_aQZuD2eDLXXFkQx8-l_XiC7jLTwo_6A6bzQaycGwLgfbiI_aem_8z39K-IAJBhiW8cHW3w4TwEmail – [email protected]

Image Credits

Members of Let’s Be Friends