- Eduard Titov, Founder and CEO of Joiner, is a serial entrepreneur whose passion for human connection has shaped his entire career.
- He founded Joiner after realising how difficult it can be to form genuine friendships when arriving somewhere new.
- Titov overcame early scepticism about launching a social platform and grew Joiner organically to a highly engaged user base.
- He defines success as improving people’s lives through meaningful connections while building a focused, passionate team.
- Titov believes the key to entrepreneurship is choosing a niche you love and gaining hands-on experience before building something of your own.
Tell me about yourself and your company
I’m Edi Titov, a serial entrepreneur who grew up in a family of five brothers, which instilled in me a deep appreciation for human connections. I’ve always been passionate about bringing people together, and my journey has involved helping countless friends meet and form lasting relationships. This passion for human connection, combined with my own experiences of feeling isolated in new places, led me to create Joiner. Joiner is an extension of who I am: a platform designed to make it effortless for anyone to meet new people and build genuine friendships with just a click.
What inspired you to start your company, and what problem were you trying to solve?
My inspiration came from a challenging experience during the COVID lockdown in Kazakhstan, where I was stuck for four months. Using dating apps like Tinder, I found it incredibly difficult to connect meaningfully with people. The process was time-consuming, superficial, and often disappointing. I realized that the long, drawn-out process of swiping and chatting didn’t lead to genuine connections. That frustration sparked the idea for Joiner which is a platform that cuts through the noise, enabling quick, meaningful, and interest-based meetups, not just for dating but for building real friendships and connections in a fast and genuine way.
What has been your biggest challenge so far, and how did you overcome it?
One of the biggest challenges was the widespread skepticism about launching a social network in 2023 and growing it in 2025. Many doubted that we could overcome the inherent difficulties of the social industry, especially starting from a small country like Lithuania. However, our users’ enthusiasm and daily engagement proved us right. The joy and genuine connections we see in our community, when people meet and smile, confirm that we’re on the right path. We’re bringing joy into the lives of people who may feel isolated, expats, and those struggling with depression, and transforming their experience into something positive and meaningful.
Can you describe a pivotal moment that significantly shaped the direction of your startup?
A pivotal moment for Joiner was reaching critical mass. In the early stages, we faced the classic chicken-and-egg problem: without enough users, there wasn’t enough content, and without content, users would leave. The turning point came when we hit that critical mass, allowing both user base and content to grow in tandem. This led to organic growth and word-of-mouth expansion, reaching 50,000 users without any advertising. It’s important to note that for Joiner, which focuses on offline interactions, 50,000 users is a remarkable achievement. In contrast to platforms that rely on purely online content, this level of engagement in an offline context is truly significant, highlighting the real impact and value we’re delivering.
How do you define success?
For your business: Success for Joiner means creating a global impact by genuinely improving people’s lives. It’s about fostering meaningful connections across the world, ensuring that our platform not only thrives as a business but also brings real, positive value to communities everywhere.
As a founder: For me, success is about self-fulfillment and passion for what I do. It’s about loving the journey and continually growing as a leader who attracts the best minds. Ultimately, it’s about building a small but powerful team that can make a meaningful difference in the world.
What advice would you give to someone thinking about launching their own startup?
I would recommend that young entrepreneurs first find a niche they truly love and are passionate about, something they’d be excited to stay in for the long haul. Then, within that niche, I’d suggest gaining hands-on experience by working for top companies in the field, even if it means starting as an intern and working for free. This way, they’ll gain invaluable knowledge and insights before launching their own venture. This approach helps build a solid foundation and ensures they’re well-prepared for the challenges ahead.
What’s next for your company? Any exciting developments we should watch out for?
In the future, we’re focused on enhancing the user experience by blending digital and real-world interactions. We’re also excited about growing partnerships with businesses, ensuring mutual benefits and creating fun, rewarding experiences for everyone involved. And we’re working on something truly special that we’re not quite ready to reveal yet, but we’re confident it will delight our community. Stay tuned, as there’s a lot of exciting stuff on the horizon!
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Founder’s 5 with Eduard Titov
Want to find out more about the man behind Joiner? Here’s TechRound’s exclusive Founder’s Five with Eduard Titov.
1. Favourite business tool?
My favorite business tool is a simple notes app. It’s incredibly versatile and essential for me because I deal with a constant flow of meetings, feedback, and ideas every day. It allows me to quickly jot down thoughts, organize my plans, and keep track of all the valuable insights I gather from my interactions. It’s straightforward, effective, and truly indispensable in my daily workflow.
2. One lesson you learned the hard way?
One of the most important lessons I learned the hard way is the value of trust combined with clear agreements. While it’s crucial to trust people, I realized that having formal contracts is essential to protect yourself. I once lost money by providing funds without proper agreements, and that experience taught me the importance of always having everything documented.
3. A future trend you’re watching?
Of course, AI is at the forefront of everyone’s attention right now. It’s fascinating to see where it’s headed and how it will transform our world. I’m also keenly watching how smartphones will evolve—whether they’ll even exist in the future and how technology will reshape our daily lives. It’s an exciting trend that I’m closely following and deeply intrigued by.
4. A quote you live by?
“Less is more” — Dieter Rams. I love this quote because it teaches the value of simplicity and humility. It reminds me to focus on what truly matters and to strip away the unnecessary. This philosophy influences how I build products: by removing the superfluous and honing in on what’s essential, we create something that’s both powerful and easy to use. It’s one of the reasons why Joiner resonates with people — it’s straightforward and solves problems quickly.
5. One book/podcast you recommend?
One of the books I highly recommend is “The Pumpkin Plan” by Mike Michalowicz. It’s a brilliant guide for business and entrepreneurship, offering invaluable insights on how to grow and refine your business. What’s great about it is that it emphasizes that you don’t need an overwhelming amount of resources to succeed; instead, it shows how to focus on what truly matters and streamline your growth effectively.
