Some things just go together, like coffee and conversations. Starbucks and Meetup recently launched a partnership to encourage people to grow their communities. The two companies have complementary missions: Meetup, a platform that facilitates connections, and Starbucks, a coffee company with a mission to inspire and nurture the human spirit—one person, one cup, and one neighborhood at a time. The initiative will bring people together at virtual and in-person community gatherings.
“We’re all thrilled about this opportunity to collaborate with Starbucks. For years, Starbucks has been one of the most popular places for Meetup group organizers to host their events. At Meetup, our goal is to help people connect over shared interests, but it’s also important to think about where people go to connect—and often, that’s at a Starbucks,” David Siegel, CEO of Meetup said.
A culture of coffee and connection
One aspect of the partnership is the newly-formed Starbucks Meetup Pro Network. Starbucks store managers in the United States have the opportunity to organize Meetup groups for their store locations and host events. Meetup will promote participating Starbucks stores’ events to its network of Meetup members who share an interest in the events, from coffee tastings to food drives and park clean-ups. Since launching on August 16, Starbucks stores in cities across the country have opted into the Starbucks Meetup Pro Network, and events are already in the works. As a long-time hub for the community, Starbucks is a natural place for people to come together. The coffee company also emphasizes volunteerism as a way to connect and support the surrounding communities.
After more than a year of limited social interaction, people across the country are looking to reconnect with the people and activities that bring joy. The priority of this partnership is to give community members a chance to reconnect in a way that’s both safe and convenient. Event hosts will be encouraged to host outdoor and virtual events to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 and have the option to require that in-person event attendees wear masks. All events will adhere to local gathering guidelines.
Mary Garcia (she/her) is Meetup’s Content Manager and editor of the Community Matters blog. When she’s not writing, Mary organizes a swamp fiction book club on Meetup. Find her on LinkedIn.
Last modified on November 9, 2021
