Many founders’ stories start with a desire to build something they wished existed, while at the same time believing it’s something the world also needs. Our story is no different.
Hi there! I’m Jess, and in 2021 I started a WhatsApp group called the ‘🍆’ chat…
Its primary purpose? Planning s*x-capades to play parties with a few close friends in Sydney. I’d invite everyone around to my place for pre drinks, giving us a chance to connect before heading to the club where conversation often felt impossible.
I quickly realised that what I loved most about hosting people was simply connecting with them as people. Going to s*x parties was fun, but creating real connections with people that view the world a little differently, just like you? That’s where I felt like I’d struck gold.
Word spread fast about our spicy chat, and before I knew it we had over 250 members. By that point, I realised what made our group special was something that was missing from other spaces I’d been in—the chance to build real connections first, with s*x as the icing on the cake, not the expectation. The group was starting to feel like a true community, so I decided to give it a name: ‘The Open Circle’ and moved everyone over to our very own app.
As The Open Circle continued to grow, I quickly realised I couldn’t do it all on my own. That’s when James came into my life and our dynamic duo was born. Together, we’ve been creating magic ever since. One of our proudest creations is the Festival of Alternative Relationships—an event that connects our community with its deepest roots, offering a safe and inclusive space for authentic connection, play, and the sharing of wisdom.
Hand on my heart, The Open Circle has been one of the greatest gifts of my life. Building this community has guided me towards a deeper purpose of creating a safe space within alternative relationships where people feel celebrated for who they are as individuals and their choice to approach relationships differently.
I cannot express how happy it has made me to witness people forming life long friendships, moving in together as housemates and building deep romantic relationships with people they met through The Open Circle. Through word of mouth alone, we've now grown to over 550 members.