POPULIT

POPULIT is a technology company operating a platform designed to foster in-person social connections through curated dining experiences. Founded in 2023 by Rodrigo Gómez Rubio and headquartered in Madrid, Spain, the company targets individuals seeking to meet new people for friendship, networking, or language practice in a restaurant setting. The idea emerged from concerns during the pandemic about how confinement would alter social interactions.

The company operates on a B2B2C model, partnering with restaurants to organize and host group meals. This creates a three-way value proposition: users get a facilitated social experience, restaurants gain customers and visibility, and POPULIT generates revenue. The platform allows users to select their preferences, including date, time, price range, and the type of connections they wish to make, before booking a seat at a table of three to six people. To diversify its offering and revenue streams, the company also collaborates with entertainment businesses to offer combined experiences, such as dinner followed by an Escape Room.

After an initial bootstrapping phase led by its CEO, POPULIT secured €300,000 in a 2025 funding round. This round was composed of €160,000 from private investment and a €140,000 participative loan from ENISA (Empresa Nacional de Innovación), a Spanish government entity that backs scalable and financially sound business models. The capital is allocated towards two main goals: enhancing the technology platform and executing a strategic marketing campaign to accelerate user acquisition and build a network effect. The technological development roadmap includes building a more robust, gamified platform with a personalized recommendation system to encourage repeat usage and support expansion into new cities.

Keywords: social dining, networking, B2B2C, curated experiences, restaurant partnerships, community building, experiential leisure, group meals, social connection, foodtech