Built for discovery
Built with a deep understanding of student networks, local businesses, and the community they are embedded in, we at LocalLinked are looking to revolutionise the way students interact with their cities, and drive them to spend locally.
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What we stand for
Bringing people together through food, generosity and discovery
Driven by the risks worth taking
Our responsibility to build something that outlasts us
Our story
It all started with three simple things: a community centre, a love for food, and the growing sense that we students were being left out of the places and people that make a city feel like home.
While volunteering at Spark Community Space in 2023, Luca discovered something rare: people from all walks of life connecting over tea, board games, and the kind of small talk that turns into real friendship. But hardly any of his student peers knew this space, or others like it, even existed.
He started inviting his friends along. Every week he showed up to play Scrabble with the older folks, ride bikes down the seafront, and share a warm meal or a few laughs over high-stakes card games. At first, it was messy and brilliant. Eventually, some of the society group chats blocked him for spamming invitations, but he knew he was onto something.
Weeks later, he spoke to an international student who told him how isolating those first few months in a new city had been. No familiar food, no sense of direction, no idea where to find people who felt like home. Her experience wasn't unique. After meeting co-founder Frankie whilst surfing in 2024, Luca realised he had also experienced this.
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That's when the ideas grew. What if we could bridge the gap between students and their city? What if we could make it easier to find your people, places, and purpose? This wasn't simply a lightbulb moment, it was a collection of ideas and opportunity built on the foundation of the problems we saw around us.
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We're not just changing perceptions. We're rebuilding the very concept of community for a generation that craves genuine connection. In a world that often feels fragmented, we're proving that local isn't small, it's powerful.
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That's what we're building: a shared table, an open map, a place to belong and shape the waves that carve us.
Our values
A Shared Table
Good food is a universal language. It is an invitation to connect, collaborate, and celebrate our similarities and differences, helping our local community grow stronger.
Off The Map
We’re driven by adventure, discovery, and exploration. Be willing to take risk, act bold, and welcome change. Enjoying the journey along the way.
An Open Book
Transparency isn’t a feature. It’s a principle. We speak plainly, own our mistakes, and build systems that invite accountability. Lead with honesty, always.
Designed To Last
We’re here to leave things better. This means taking responsibility for our impact, whether it’s environmentally, socially, or culturally. We act with intention, respect, and design for longevity.
"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes." - Marcel Proust, novelist