Building Community, One Meal at a Time

We believe the best conversations happen around a table, and the best friendships start with a shared meal.

Our Story

Why Picnic Exists

We live in the most connected era in human history, yet loneliness has become an epidemic. People have hundreds of contacts but struggle to find someone to grab lunch with. We attend networking events but leave feeling more isolated than before. We scroll endlessly but crave real conversation.

Here's what we've noticed: the conversations that change everything don't happen in conference rooms or through screens—they happen over meals. A casual coffee that turns into a three-hour conversation. A lunch where a work acquaintance becomes a trusted friend. A dinner where strangers discover they're building similar dreams.

There's something almost magical about sharing food. Guards come down. Conversations go deeper. Laughter flows easier. Ideas spark naturally. And somewhere between the appetizers and dessert, strangers become people you actually want to see again.

But here's the problem: making it happen is harder than it should be. Coordinating schedules. Finding the right people. Working up the courage to invite someone you barely know. So most of us default to eating alone at our desks, scrolling through our phones, or skipping the opportunity altogether.

That's why we built Picnic. Not to solve loneliness with an algorithm, but to make the solution—sharing meals with interesting people—ridiculously easy. Because real joy comes from friendship. Real connections happen over shared food. And real community is built one conversation at a time.

We started in early 2025 with a simple belief: the world needs more shared tables and fewer lonely lunch breaks. Picnic is our way of making that happen.

61%
of Americans report feeling lonely
8,247
people on our waitlist
March 2026
Launching in Salt Lake City
Our Mission

What We're Building

More than an app—a movement to rebuild human connection

Make Friendship Easy

Meeting people shouldn't require courage or perfect timing. We're building a platform where finding your next friend is as simple as choosing a meal.

Elevate Conversation

Small talk is overrated. Every Picnic comes with a conversation topic designed to spark real dialogue, so you skip straight to the good stuff.

Build Real Community

We're not building a user base—we're nurturing communities of people who show up, care about each other, and turn strangers into lifelong friends.

Meet the Team

The People Building Picnic

A small team with a big mission

Edgar Cheney

Edgar Cheney

Co-Founder & CEO

For over a dozen years, Edgar built productivity apps for millions at companies like Microsoft and Lucid Software. He made people faster, more efficient, better at their jobs. Now he wants to build something that makes people happy.

He's learned that a great meal with the right people is worth more than any productivity hack. After years of seeing casual lunches turn into lasting friendships and strangers at dinner become collaborators, he's applying everything he knows to solve a problem that matters personally: making it ridiculously easy for people to find their next great friendship over food.

Jainam Patel

Jainam Patel

Co-Founder & CTO

Jainam built his career making complex systems work seamlessly—from scaling infrastructure at Morgan Stanley to automating deployments that saved engineering teams hundreds of hours. He's the engineer who ensures everything runs smoothly behind the scenes. He's spent years thinking about scale, reliability, and how to build systems people can depend on.

Now he's applying that same mindset to something more human. He believes technology's highest purpose isn't efficiency—it's enabling real connection. Picnic is his answer: a platform engineered to be so reliable and simple that the technology fades into the background, leaving only what matters—people, food, and conversation.

The Dream Team

Talented developers and product minds bringing Picnic to life

Araum Karimi

Araum Karimi

Software Engineer

Full-stack developer with a passion for creating seamless user experiences. Araum ensures every tap, swipe, and interaction feels natural and delightful.

Rasim Crnica

Rasim Crnica

Software Engineer

Computer science student who loves building things with code, from performance-critical applications to creative side projects. Enjoys working with systems, backend development, and exploring new technologies. Outside of coding, he's a soccer fan who loves hiking, camping, and skiing.

Zaid Al-Khayyat

Zaid Al-Khayyat

Software Engineer

Mobile development expert focused on performance and reliability. Zaid makes sure Picnic works flawlessly whether you're on iOS or Android.

Zakia Mohammadi

Zakia Mohammadi

Software Engineer

Frontend developer with an eye for detail and design. Zakia transforms complex features into intuitive interfaces that just make sense.

Rman Adhikari

Rman Adhikari

Product Manager

Product strategist who keeps the team focused on what matters most—helping people connect. Rman bridges the gap between vision and execution.

Our Values

What Drives Us

The principles that guide every decision we make

🤝

People First, Always

Every feature, every decision, every line of code exists to serve one purpose: helping real people form real friendships.

💬

Conversation Over Connection

Collecting contacts is easy. Having meaningful conversations is rare. We optimize for depth, not breadth.

🌱

Community, Not Growth

We're building a community of people who show up and care, not chasing vanity metrics or viral growth.

Simplicity Wins

Meeting people should be simple. We strip away everything that doesn't serve the core experience.

🔒

Trust & Safety

Real community requires real trust. We build features that ensure every Picnic feels safe and welcoming.

🎯

Quality Over Quantity

One great friend is worth a thousand acquaintances. We design for meaningful connections, not maximum matches.

Join Us on This Journey

Whether you're looking to join our waitlist, explore opportunities, or just want to say hello—we'd love to hear from you.