Recent UNE graduate creates app for students to find community

BIDDEFORD — The transition to college life can be challenging. Young people find themselves on their own for the first time, and while they are learning to navigate a new campus, it can be difficult to find peers with similar interests. 

With the help of a new app, students can find community. 

Abbie Anderson, a Massachusetts native who graduated this year from University of New England with a bachelor’s degree in sustainability and business has created CLYK.

Clyk is an app college students can use to find peers with like interests.

“It’s using your phone to get off your phone,” said Anderson.

Students can go onto CLYK and fill out a survey. The app will help them find people who have the same hobbies or like the same leisure activities, and events that appeal to their interests. The app also provides data to the university, which will help the college determine what sorts of events to plan based on student interests.

 

Images courtesy of CLYK

“CLYK is kind of like a play on words. You’re finding your clique, your people, but because its an APP, you’re clicking on your phone,” said Anderson.

The app was born out of Anderson’s experience of attending college during the pandemic.

“I was isolated from everyone due to social distancing, and I felt really disconnected from my peers,” she said.

Anderson conducted market research, interviewing representatives from more than 40 colleges across the country. She discovered she was not the only student who felt that disconnect.

“I talked to students at UNE and from across the country to see if I was the only one feeling this way, and I was actually not. There were a lot of other students who felt isolated due to the pandemic,” she said.

UNE will pilot CLYK in the fall semester.

Earlier this month, Anderson was the winner of the eighth season of the “Greenlight Maine” College Edition, taking home the televised pitch competition’s top prize of $10,000 to spearhead development of her business plan. She’s using to money to hire a software engineering firm to help develop Clyk, and a user experience designer to polish the app’s user interface.

Anderson is excited to have her alma matter pilot her product, and she is thankful to UNE for the support she’s received.

“UNE has been instrumental in growing CLYK,” said Anderson.

While at UNE, Anderson was able to take advantage of programs like the Shaws Innovation Fellowship and the P.D. Merril Makerspace, and made connections to trustees, innovators and faculty who became mentors.

Michael Sheldon, associate provost of academic affairs, said he believes CLYK could help with student retention and help students find a sense of belonging on campus.

Publisher Liz Gotthelf can be reached at newsdesk@sacobaynews.com.