What do you do when your child struggles to make friends, not because they don’t want to, but because the world simply isn’t built for them? If you’re Moneisha Gandhi and Gopika Kapoor, you build that world yourself.
In 2024, the two Mumbai mums launched Buddy Up, an inclusive social networking app designed for people with disabilities and their caregivers. The idea took root in their own homes. Both their sons, Mihaan (who has Down Syndrome) and Veer (who is on the autism spectrum), had difficulty forming meaningful social connections as they grew older. But when the boys met, something clicked. And so did an idea.
“We realised how powerful and transformative friendship can be - for confidence, for self-esteem, for joy,” says Gopika.
From that personal connection came a larger vision: to make it easier for others in the disability community to experience the same kind of belonging. Today, the Buddy Up app allows users to create profiles, match based on location, age, interests, and disability type, and connect with like-minded friends. It’s free to use, and it also supports caregivers who often face similar isolation.
The founders have gone a step further to ensure accessibility is at the heart of the experience. From screen reader compatibility for the visually impaired to voice notes and audio call features, they’ve considered the diverse needs of their user base. Importantly, the app is also age-restricted: under-18s can join only through their caregivers to ensure safety.
Buddy Up already has over a thousand users and a growing community that spans across India. Gandhi and Kapoor hope to scale it further - into smaller towns, across borders, and beyond just a digital friendship platform.
Especially in a country like India, disability comes with stigma but this app is changing that.