The Future of Travel
Ditch the dating apps with the implied strings and misconceptions and rediscover the magic of travel—the people you meet along the way.
The US recently declared loneliness a new public health epidemic and said it has been an underappreciated public health crisis that has harmed individual and societal health.
It is our mission to combat loneliness with connection and dissolve borders one match at a time.
What drives us.
Sonder was born out of the desire to cultivate a global community of conscious travelers. Travelers who seek to meet other travelers and locals, travelers who seek immersive cultural experiences, and travelers who respect cultures and understand their environmental and social impact while traveling. Marshall McLuhan, a media and communication theorist coined the phenomenon the ‘global village’ in 1964. The phenomenon describes the world’s culture simultaneously shrinking and expanding due to pervasive technological advances that allow for instantaneous sharing of culture. At the precipice of a major shift in how the world consumes media and connects with each other, Sonder aims to shift the narrative and guide young travelers to travel with intention. Envisioning the world’s culture, the harmonious drum beats in Africa, the electric EDM in Europe and the traditional didgeridoo of Australia, to the aromatic spices in India and the nostalgic apple pie flavor found in the United States. Sonder seeks to cultivate an environment through technological advances that respects the uniqueness of the world's collection of cultures rather than the fragmentation of cultures or rise of a few dominant cultures.
The name Sonder comes from its definition: Sonder; The realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own. It is our belief by embracing this idea and understanding we are all interwoven in the stories of others, as a community, as a society we will progress.