Tech That Gets You Off Your Phone: Linxy Turns Southeast Events Into IRL Connection Zones
Meet the startups and tech companies building in the Southeast region of the US.
Golf tournaments, food carnivals, and music festivals see an opportunity to lean on technology to help attendees connect more IRL (in real life).
Many such in-person events are leaning on Charlotte-based Linxy to make those connections possible. At its core, Linxy is about allowing users to connect with people around them based on shared interests.
Hypepotamus first wrote about Linxy this time last year, as the EventTech startup outlined its ambitious growth goals for 2025.
A year later, Linxy has seen growth across the Southeast.
Founder Joel Puthoff told Hypepotamus that Linxy was part of over 100 events so far in 2025 alone. Earlier this month, Linxy was part of R&B Versus Live, an Atlanta event where attendees used Linxy to create real-time connections, vote on performances, and even interact with performers through its “live social tech” platform.
This surge in adoption reflects a larger shift in how event organizers approach attendee engagement. Rather than simply providing entertainment, organizers are increasingly focused on facilitating meaningful interactions among participants and building lasting community connections, a challenge that traditional event technology hasn't fully addressed.
“Every business is trying to figure out how to build strong community and connection, especially business owners and event organizers. I've also learned that we can't build the perfect product for them all,” Puthoff told Hypepotamus. With that in mind, Linxy has focused on building out a product that is focused on “Event Organizers, Venue Owners, and Universities that are seeking optimal engagement & community building outcomes.”
To support these event organizer stakeholders, Linxy has rolled out a new Creator Dashboard that enables event organizers and venue owners to create events and activate new locations on the Linxy Action Map, giving them greater control over how attendees experience and interact within their spaces.
The philosophy that drives the Linxy team might seem paradoxical for a tech platform. As Puthoff puts it, the goal is to "use tech to lose tech.” It is about leveraging technology not as an end in itself, but as a tool to facilitate genuine human connection before fading into the background.
Live EventTech Opportunities
Linxy's growth reflects broader momentum in the live EventTech sector. While the post-COVID lockdown period initially sparked a surge of interest in virtual and hybrid event solutions, the market has since matured toward platforms that enhance rather than replace in-person experiences.
Across the Southeast, several startups are building options for in-person connections, including:
Tampa-based Krew Social: A a map-based social networking platform designed to turn online introductions into real-world relationships
Charlotte-based VRV Athletics: A startup connecting people who share a passion for staying active
Charlotte-based Offline: A nationwide community of foodies with a monthly ritual of trying 2 new restaurants every month
Atlanta-based Tapn: A platform that helps event organizers with seamless check-ins and attendee networking management
