User:Rawka0/sandbox

Selfwish
Selfwish Corporation is a plus-one activity website and mobile app designed to solve the problem of wanting to do an activity but not having someone to do it with. Selfwish was founded and incorporated in the state of Florida in 2023 by Zachary Thames. Generally, when someone wants to do an activity but they don't have someone to do it with, the person either a) does the activity alone, or b) does not do the activity at all. Selfwish presents a third option, especially, in a world where loneliness and isolation is so prevalent. Furthermore, Selfwish is built on the belief of building friendships and relationships through activities.

Through Selfwish, people can post the activity they would like to do and other people on the platform can requests to join them on posted activity. With the prevalence of online use where one-in-three U.S. adults 18 and over report that they are online “almost constantly, Selfwish leverages online activity to drive in-person interactions. Through Selfwish, enhance your social circle effortlessly: foster connections with a plus-one to every activity.

Selfwish fighting against loneliness and isolation
About one-in-two adults report having a sense of loneliness. The mortality rate of being socially disconnected is similar to that of smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day, and even greater than that of obesity and physical inactivity. Given the profound consequences of loneliness and isolation, Selfwish has an opportunity to truly help people live their best life.

Social isolation is essentially having a few social relationships, social roles, group memberships, and frequent social interactions. Furthermore, loneliness is a subjective internal state. The lack of social connections can lead to a significant risk of individual health and longevity. Loneliness and social isolation increase the likelihood of premature death by 26% and 29%, respectively. Social isolation among older adults accounts for approximately $6.7 billion in excess Medicare spending annually, largely due to increased hospital and nursing facility spending.

Social connection is a fundamental human need, as essential to survival as food, water, and shelter. A 2022 study found that when people were asked how close they felt to others emotionally, only 39% of adults in the United States stated that they felt very close to others. Despite such a high prevalence, less than 20% of individuals who frequently or always feel lonely or isolated recognize it as a major issue.

Despite this, social connection is generally not something we can do alone and not something that is accessible.This is partly due to the need for others to connect with, but also because our society —including our schools, workplaces, neighborhoods, public policies, and digital environments— plays a role in either facilitating or hindering social connection. The number of close friendships has decreased over the past several decades. Among individuals not reporting loneliness or social isolation, nearly 90% have three or more confidants. In 1960, single-person households accounted for only 13% of all U.S. households, and in 2022, that number increased to 29% of all households.

There are numerous advantages in which technology can foster connection by providing opportunities to stay in contact with friends and family, and creating opportunities to find community, especially for those from marginalized groups.

Benefits of Selfwish
Adults in the world rate their social relationships, particularly with family and close friends, as the most important source of meaning, purpose, and motivation in their lives. Additionally, while loneliness, poor-quality relationships, and social negativity can cause stress responses and lead to long-term health outcomes, Being more socially connected can be beneficial in preventing maladaptive stress responses and the negative health effects of stress. More recent estimates, based on synthesizing data from 148 studies, with an average of 7.5 years of follow-up, suggest that social connection increases the likelihood of survival by 50%. High blood pressure (hypertension) is one of the most common causes of cardiovascular disease. Many studies demonstrate that the more social support one has, the greater the reduction in the likelihood of developing high blood pressure, even in individuals who are at higher risk for the condition. Social connection has been associated with improved self-reported health and disease management among individuals with diabetes.

Supportive and inclusive relationships at work are associated with employee employment satisfaction, creativity, competence, and better job performance. Diverse social networks that facilitate interaction and relationship-building among individuals of different socioeconomic status (SES) May provide opportunities for individuals from lower SES backgrounds to gain stronger footing in the labor market and obtain higher-paying jobs. Additionally, activities that better connect individuals to one another, including immersion in local community-based activities or volunteering, can also equip individuals with desirable skills that make them more employable, and significantly increase the likelihood of unemployed individuals becoming employed.

Selfwish Chief Executive Officer
Selfwish's Chief Executive Officer is Zachary Thames. Zachary has been featured in the Medium where he was interviewed by Paul Moss and discussed the "Five Things You Need To Create A Highly Successful Startup."

Zachary is a Florida Certified Public Accountant who in 2019 was awarded the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants Horizon Award for accelerating the accounting field through professional experience, leadership, entrepreneurism and professional credentials. Furthermore, Zachary has contributed to Mergers and Acquisitions deals with a focus on technology companies ranging from $50 million to over $7 billion.