Our story
Turns out, humans need other humans. Not LinkedIn connections. Not Zoom calls. Actual people, in actual places, having actual conversations.
We built Keld because we were tired of pretending a heart react on Slack counts as social interaction. Because "networking" had become a cursed word, hijacked by people posting humble brags about their morning routines. Because working from home is brilliant, apart from the eating lunch alone bit.
We're not trying to reinvent networking. We're just remembering what it was like before it got weird.
The name
/kɛld/
Origin
Old Norse kelda, meaning a spring or well.
Everyone needed water, so everyone showed up. You'd bump into neighbours. Hear the news.
No one scheduled a "sync" at the well. You just went, and community happened.
The insight
Somewhere along the way, "networking" got hijacked. Now it means posting about your 5am routine and calling yourself a "thought leader." Meanwhile, millions of people are working from their spare bedrooms, wondering if that funny thought they just had is worth a Slack message. (It probably is. No one will see it anyway.)
Traditional co-working tried to fix this with hot desks and "community managers." Costs a fortune. Still feels like paying for a desk, not a conversation.
We think the answer is simpler. Good cafés. Interesting people. The option to say hello. No AI-generated icebreakers. No "So, tell me about yourself." Just showing up.
Who's behind this
I'm a remote worker in Manchester. For years I told myself a busy Slack channel counted as company. Reader, it does not.
I built Keld because I wanted an excuse to leave the house and a way to meet people who get it. The freelance life. The "is this mic on?" anxiety. The dangerous relationship with the fridge.
Starting in Manchester because I know it. Expanding when we've got it right. No grand plans to "disrupt" anything. Just trying to make remote work a bit less lonely.
We're launching in Manchester soon. Join the waitlist and we'll let you know when it's time to leave the house.
Join the waitlist