Today we’d like to introduce you to Bryan Kaplan
Hi Bryan, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’ve always been drawn to building things — ideas, products, teams. But more than anything, I’ve been drawn to solving problems that I personally feel.
A few years ago, I moved to Charlotte. New city, new chapter. I had my family, I had a great job — but I quickly realized how hard it is as an adult to build meaningful, local friendships. People are busy. Cities are transient. Remote work means most of us don’t leave our homes unless we really have to. And even if we want to be social or active, finding the right people to do that with isn’t easy.
I kept thinking about that. I’d talk to friends, neighbors, even co-workers — and I realized this wasn’t just my problem. This quiet sense of disconnection is something a lot of people are carrying.
So I decided to build something around it. That’s where VRV Athletics came from — a simple idea to help people connect through sports. Whether you’re brand new to a city or just looking for someone to hit around with on the pickleball court, VRV makes it easy to find your people.
We’re live now in North and South Carolina, and growing. It started as a side project with a few passionate friends, and now it’s a real movement. And honestly, I’m just excited to see where we can take it — because I truly believe that something as simple as a game can help solve something as complex as loneliness.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Definitely not a smooth road — but I don’t think any path worth taking ever is.
One of the biggest challenges has been building the right team. When you’re working on a startup — especially one that’s early-stage and fueled by passion more than paycheck — finding people who believe in the mission and are willing to put in the time and energy is no small task. It’s taken trial and error, tough conversations, and a lot of trust-building to find the right group of people who are all-in on what we’re creating. I’m incredibly proud of the team we’ve assembled now.
Balancing everything has also been a real challenge. I still work a full-time job during the day, and on top of that, my wife and I recently welcomed our first child into the world. Our son is 7 months old now, and becoming a father has been the most meaningful experience of my life. Between work, VRV, and family, every hour of the day has a job. It’s forced me to get really intentional about how I spend my time, where I focus my energy, and how I keep showing up for all the things that matter most.
But at the same time, these challenges have grounded me. They’ve made me more grateful, more focused, and more motivated to build something that not only helps others find connection, but reflects what I value most — family, community, purpose, and real-life relationships.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
VRV Athletics is a social app designed to help people make real-world friendships through sports and shared activity. We’re not a dating app. We’re not a gym. We’re not just about staying fit. We’re about building connection — helping people find their people in an increasingly disconnected world.
The app is simple: tell us what sports or activities you enjoy, your skill level, and what you’re looking for — and we’ll connect you with others nearby who match. You can grow your own squad, join clubs in your city, or just find someone new to hit the courts with. Whether you’ve never played pickleball before or you’re a former college athlete, VRV is for everyone.
We’re currently live in North and South Carolina, with plans to expand nationwide this summer. What makes us different is our focus on inclusivity, real-world interaction, and a deep understanding of how hard it can be to make new friends as an adult. The platform is built with intention — with features that help remove social barriers and create low-pressure ways to connect through play.
What I’m most proud of is the mission behind the brand. We’re not just launching another social app — we’re trying to address something bigger: loneliness, isolation, and the lack of organic, in-person connection so many people feel today.
I want readers to know that if you’ve ever felt like it’s harder than it should be to meet people in a new city, or you’re just looking to bring a little more connection and movement into your life, VRV was built for you.
We believe that friendships can start with a game — and from there, grow into something real.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
For me, it’s a mix of passion and creativity. I’ve never been able to just go through the motions — if I’m building something, it has to mean something. That passion is what fuels me when time is tight, when things feel uncertain, or when progress is slower than I’d like. It’s the emotional connection to the mission that keeps me going.
But just as important has been creativity — not just in the product itself, but in how we solve problems, structure our team, and make progress without unlimited resources. When you’re building something on the side, while working full time and raising a family, creativity becomes essential. You have to constantly rethink how to do more with less, how to stand out, how to connect with people in ways that feel real.
I think that combination — being deeply passionate about the “why,” and creative enough to figure out the “how” — has been the key to getting VRV Athletics to where it is today.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://vrvathletics.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vrvathletics/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vrv-athletics/
- Other: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/vrv-athletics/id6636465491
