#6-2025 Dinner with Strangers: A Growing Trend (and a Business Idea) 🍽️
THE ORIGINAL STORY
Our vetted business idea of the week
Have you ever had dinner with total strangers?
Not just in a crowded restaurant, but at a table set up specifically for people who don’t know each other, just to share an interesting evening? That’s exactly what Timeleft does—and it’s not the only one.
The Need Behind the Trend
In a world that’s increasingly digital and “remote,” there’s a growing desire for real-life connections. Dinners with strangers are becoming a popular way to meet that need, especially among:
Young professionals
Digital nomads
People new to a city
Anyone wanting to break out of their usual social bubble
The concept is simple: you sign up, get assigned to a themed dinner (often with rules like “no phones” or “2-hour time limit”), and meet 5-6 new people. Easy, right?
Why This Could Be a Great Local Business 🧠
Timeleft proved that the format works. But adapting it to your own city could be a scalable and sustainable side hustle:
💡 Simple to organize: just partner with a small restaurant or rent a cozy venue.
📍 Strong local identity: you can theme your dinners around the city, neighborhood, or target audience.
💬 Direct monetization: charge for tickets, offer monthly memberships, or collaborate with venues and sponsors.
🎯 No tech needed: you can start with just an Instagram page or a well-managed WhatsApp/Telegram group.
How You Could Launch This in Your City
👉 Start a weekly “dinner with strangers” night
👉 Offer themed events: “founders & freelancers,” “new in town,” “English only”
👉 Build a community around your events
👉 Partner with local venues that are slow mid-week
With good communication (and a bit of word of mouth), this can grow into an active local community, with extra events and local collaborations. You don’t need to be an event planner or restaurant owner—just have a clear idea and a genuine interest in connecting people.
In a nutshell:
✅ Solves a real-world need: offline connection
✅ Low-tech, high-potential for community
✅ A great first local side business
Sometimes, the best business idea… is just an excuse to go out for dinner 😉
Talk soon 👋
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