Anyone who has tried to get together with friends knows just how challenging, time-consuming, and even draining it can be—precisely the opposite of how anyone wants to feel after spending time with loved ones. Yet, with fast-paced schedules, seemingly unending to-do lists, and a vast array of obstacles that only show up at the last minute, putting together a social event with loved ones quickly becomes complicated. Despite, or perhaps because of, these challenges, the need to connect with friends and family is more important than ever. Feelings of isolation and reports on the loneliness epidemic are well documented. Dr. Rachel Semaan, Founder and CEO of Last Minute: Join the Party is ready to tackle these challenges and, at long last, get the plans out of the group chat and into real life.
Dr. Rachel Semaan
Last Minute: Join the Party Driving Spontaneity and Connection
Semaan recognized the challenges of event planning and realized that technology could be used to address these issues. She explains, “People don’t want to miss out on experiences with their friends, but planning can be frustrating and time-consuming.” The answer? The development of an application that transforms and simplifies event planning, making it easier to quickly get friends together without the pressure of advanced scheduling.
Enter Last Minute: Join the Party, an app that facilitates location-based planning, making spontaneous get-togethers seamless and stress-free. The app offers two key ways to share events: through a private friends list or group-based sharing. When a user selects the “Friends” option, the event notifies every individual they’ve personally added and who has added them back—perfect for intimate, exclusive gatherings. Alternatively, the “Group” option allows users to share events with a broader network without requiring direct friendships. Groups can be joined via a shared link, making them ideal for professional settings, hobby-based communities, or larger social circles. This flexibility means users can easily switch between personal plans—like a bar-hopping night with close friends—and more open events, such as a team-building outing for work colleagues. With privacy and convenience at its core, Last Minute ensures users can keep their social life thriving without disrupting their schedules.
Dr. Semaan notes, “Success isn’t about doing it all alone—it’s about staying focused and connected. This app helps you keep your ambition strong, while making sure you stay close to the people who support your journey.”
Transforming the Social Scene, One Plan at a Time
Fresh off the app store, the platform has already gained 1000 active users—and counting—within the first few weeks of its launch. This early success demonstrates a clear desire for a more efficient way to simplify planning and meet up with friends. With an easy-to-use, intuitive interface, the app helps users connect at a moment’s notice, fostering truly spontaneous connections and fun. Users can simply post their plans, and available friends can hop in and join them. The app acts as an open invite, exclusive to members, but without the hassle of mailing invites or responding to them. Simply get a notification and go.
While social media can help with finding events in your area, these outings often need to be arranged well in advance, and they certainly don’t notify anyone when something comes up and plans change. Last Minute is just that—an instant, last-minute notification for events nearby and globally that your friend is already attending. Unlike group chats that can get cluttered with GIFs and endless tangents, Last Minute keeps event planning clear and streamlined. Plus, with built-in features for on-demand polls and real-time announcements, users can easily update plans throughout the event—whether it’s switching venues, adjusting the meet-up time, or gathering input from the group. Social media isn’t going anywhere, but for anyone who wants the plans to finally make it out of the group chat and into real life, Last Minute: Join the Party is the app to get things moving.
