Our Founding Story – From a Simple Idea to a Global Movement
UniLink — and later, Actively.Club — was never just about building a platform. It was about solving a real problem: the challenge of finding genuine friendships in an increasingly disconnected world.
It all started with a simple goal: to make university life more meaningful by helping students form real connections beyond social media. But as UniLink grew, we realized something bigger — the need for real-life friendships doesn’t end after university.
That’s why we created Actively.Club — a platform designed for everyone, everywhere who craves authentic human connections in an age dominated by screens. Whether you’re new to a city, looking to expand your social circle, or simply want to be part of something bigger, Actively.Club is here to make it happen.
💡 Because great friendships don’t happen by accident — they happen when people come together.
Ben Turner, Co-Founder:
In 2017, I moved from Northern Ireland to Leeds after having lost my mother two years prior.
The campus held the promise of new beginnings, but when I arrived I faced a very different reality.
I began to struggle with my mental health and found myself at a crossroads.
The weight of uncertainty led me to question my path, and I even contemplated the idea of dropping out entirely.
It was during these crossroads that I sought help from those I had the fortune of meeting through my halls of residence.
As I opened and shared my struggles, I felt the weight of pressure begin to lift. Through their support and understanding, I realised the profound impact of friendship and genuine connections on my mental health.
This realisation changed everything. It became clear that meaningful connections were the cornerstone of a positive university experience.
I knew there must have been others like me, and after researching the problem, it turned out there were many.
With a newfound perspective, I had a vision of bringing everyone together, uniting students who were facing similar struggles, and preventing anyone from falling through the cracks. This vision became the driving force behind UniLink.
I got lucky to cross paths with Markus, a kindred spirit who believed in this vision. Markus has a long history of successful start-ups and possesses the complementary skills and experience needed to help develop the idea into products that everyone can use.
