About us

Make people healthier and happier through groups
People in a group with their hands raised in the air

Our mission: Make people healthier and happier through groups

We believe in the power of groups to transform lives. Our mission is to empower group leaders to create meaningful experiences that bring joy, connection, and belonging. This makes it easy for anyone to connect with like-minded people and be part of something real and valuable, IRL.

Heylo: the platform for every community group and leader

From run crews and book clubs to parent groups and pickleball teams, Heylo is built for every kind of community.

Great groups thrive because of dedicated leaders who bring people together. We know it’s not always easy, but the connections, shared experiences, and memories make it all worth it.

At Heylo, we’re here to support the leaders who make those connections happen.

How we got here

Heylo was born from a passion for connecting people. Co-founders Eric Winters and Brandon Pearcy met while working at Google and bonded over their love for community. From running through San Francisco to helping build one of the largest beach volleyball clubs in the world, they saw how being part of a group changes lives—helping people discover passions, achieve the impossible, and make lifelong friends.

Inspired by this realization, they created Heylo to make it easier for leaders to build and manage community groups, from breakdancing circles to tech meetups.

Members of Team Heylo standing in front of a mural smiling

Team Heylo

What we value

Be yourself

At Heylo, we believe in the power of being your authentic self. We foster an environment where everyone—team members, group leaders, and members—feels empowered to be their true selves. By embracing diversity and unique perspectives, we celebrate the individual and recognize that every group is made up of individuals.

Build trust

Trust is the bedrock of strong relationships and thriving communities. We prioritize transparency, accountability, and open communication and provide tools for group leaders to do the same. By building trust at every level, we create safe spaces for meaningful connections and collaborations.

Inspire excellence

We are committed to excellence in everything we do. From continuously improving our product to inspiring group leaders to elevate their community experiences, we set high standards and go the extra mile. We believe that when we push each other, and strive for excellence, we empower others to do the same.

Support one another

We believe in the power of lifting each other up. By fostering a culture of mutual support, we create an environment where our team thrives and our product evolves. This supportive spirit is at the core of our platform. Ultimately, we empower group leaders to build resilient communities where members actively support one another.

What Heylo group leaders say

”The second we redirected everything to the Heylo experience, all of the noise and confusion went away. The Heylo platform made the members’ lives better because it allowed people to connect without us, which is what we want. ”

Josh Goldman

Electric Athletic Club
"Before we were using Heylo, it was a more difficult process to plan a hike. Heylo is making this all possible. It’s really what we needed to put this all together. ”

Jackie Fuller

Trail Kids RVA
"There’s no feature that Whatsapp could offer me to make me go back. From an organizational point of view, Heylo is a game-changer. ”

Tasha Thompson

Black Girls Do Run UK

Meet our leaders

Eric Winters

Co-Founder and CEO

Eric’s journey to creating Heylo began with a deep interest in helping people connect. After 5 years at Google working on strategy, investing, and acquisitions, Eric decided to focus on something closer to his heart: building communities. Since then, he’s attended nearly 1,000 group events in cities around the world, from midnight runs to rollerblading meetups. Eric’s hands-on experience with various groups gives him a unique understanding of what makes them thrive.

Brandon Pearcy

Co-Founder and CTO

Brandon brings over a decade of technical expertise to Heylo. With experience leading engineering teams at Google in products like Google Maps and YouTube, Brandon’s passion for solving complex technological problems is matched only by his love for the outdoors. Whether he’s playing beach volleyball with his wife, or building the next great feature for Heylo, Brandon is dedicated to helping active and healthy people connect.