2M€ Raised to Digitise
Social Connection Across Europe
The social wellness market is increasingly capturing the attention of European investors. Among the emerging players, Franco-British startup Budhiam has just closed a two million euro funding round, with a second tranche of three million already secured for Q3 2026. A trajectory that illustrates the growing appetite for solutions addressing urban loneliness — now recognised as a public health challenge.
The figures speak for themselves. In France, eleven million people report suffering from isolation. In the United Kingdom, the government established a dedicated Ministry for Loneliness as early as 2018. Across Europe, the economic cost of social isolation is estimated at tens of billions of euros annually, factoring in absenteeism, healthcare expenditure, and lost productivity.
Yet market responses remain fragmented. On one side, dating applications often generate more frustration than genuine connection. On the other, mental health services remain overwhelmed and stigmatised. In between lies a gap that few players have attempted to bridge.
This is precisely the intermediate segment that Budhiam targets: individuals who are not in psychological distress but who experience a lack of authentic connection in their daily lives. A massive market, largely untapped by current technological solutions.
The value proposition rests on a simple principle: using technology to facilitate real human encounters, not to replace them. The application connects users with certified Listeners in partner cafés labelled as Confidence Cafés.
This digital-physical hybrid model offers several advantages. Unlike purely digital platforms, Budhiam generates engagement rooted in reality, with satisfaction rates difficult to match through virtual interactions. Unlike coaching or therapy services, the positioning remains accessible and free from stigma.
summarises Amaury Gabrian, co-founder. “We are creating a third way.”
The startup chose a binational structure from inception. Amaury Gabrian leads strategy from the United Kingdom, while his brother Pierre heads French operations. Élise Marchand-Williams, a specialist in social psychology, completes the founding trio by overseeing Listener protocols.
This organisation enables the company to address two major markets simultaneously while pooling technological developments. The network currently comprises nineteen partner cafés in Paris, with an active pipeline in London. The iOS application is available on the App Store, with the Android version being finalised ahead of the public launch scheduled for H1 2026.
Several macroeconomic factors support this type of solution. The post-pandemic period has durably altered attitudes towards social connection, with increased demand for quality interactions over quantity. Independent cafés, weakened by shifting consumption patterns, are actively seeking differentiation levers. The concept of the “third place” — a space for socialisation distinct from home and work — is experiencing renewed interest among sociologists and urban planners.