The story behind MingleSpace
In 2023, when I first started exploring how to encourage more meaningful interactions in everyday life, I kept noticing a common challenge: even in places full of people — cafes, parks, breweries, festivals, community events — there was often no clear way to meet new people.
Surgeon General Vivek Murthy’s report on loneliness confirmed that this wasn't just a personal observation; it was a failure of design. Suddenly it hit me, why aren't there clearly marked areas, created by the venues themselves, where people are simply invited to introduce themselves? Once I saw the gap, I couldn't unsee it.
Out of that came MingleSpace: a scalable tool to unlock the potential of missed connections. Over the past two years I built the full concept — the website, a sign portfolio, a guide for venues, and a library of conversation prompts and activities organized into progressive levels of connection. I then piloted the MVP at 15 venues across Milwaukee and Madison. Every one of them loved the idea.
What I've learned is that the concept is right — but it requires a professional team, an enterprise-level platform, and real investment to test it properly at scale. If you are a builder, investor, or organization who wants to take this idea further, I want to hear from you.
—Michael
What we believe
Michael Kirsch
Founder & CEO
In 2023, when I first started exploring how to encourage more meaningful interactions in everyday life, I kept noticing a common challenge: even in places full of people, like cafes, parks, breweries, festivals, community events, there was often no clear way to meet new people.
Around that time, I became aware of Surgeon General Vivek Murthy's report on loneliness and public health and the growing national conversation about the importance of social connection. That report, along with the work of groups like the Foundation for Social Connection, convinced me this was a subject area of great importance and ripe for innovation.
Soon it hit me while visiting those same places and events — why aren’t there clearly marked areas, created by places themselves, where people are invited to introduce themselves? Once I saw the gap, I couldn’t unsee it.
Out of that realization came MingleSpace: a scalable tool to unlock the potential of missed connections. The idea is simple: give places an easy way to invite people to say hi at designated spaces, making spontaneous conversation an expected part of public places and events.
If you're a community building company or organization working on something similar to this idea, or interested to help bring this idea into being, reach out to collaborate with me.
—Michael
A Note from Michael
Opportunities to connect should fit into daily life. Meeting new people should feel as natural as finding a water fountain—always there when you need it, easy to use, and part of the environment.
Places where people gather can take the lead in encouraging connection. By simply adding a clearly marked spot, they create an invitation to say hi.
Spontaneous conversations strengthen communities. When strangers can chat in everyday places, they build trust, spark new ideas, and make places feel more welcoming.
Michael Kirsch is the founder of MingleSpace, a community-building initiative based in Milwaukee, WI, that helps everyday places create visible connection spots where people can meet and introduce themselves. Since 2024, he has piloted MingleSpaces in cafes, breweries, parks, and events across Milwaukee and Madison, building partnerships with local businesses and developing tools that can be scaled nationwide.
Michael is interested in how loneliness and isolation are symptoms of social norms and structures. His work focuses on reimagining social infrastructure so that everyday places naturally invite conversation and help communities feel more open and connected.
From his roots in Stevens Point, WI, Michael has long been motivated by a desire to serve others and improve lives through ideas with lasting impact. He holds a BA in History from George Mason University and an MS in Mathematics in Finance from NYU’s Courant Institute, and is the author of The Challenge of Credit Supply: American Problems and Solutions, 1650–1950. Before founding MingleSpace, he worked in transformation and financial operations at KPMG.
