Original Coverage & Source Attribution: womenlovetech.com
Neither of them was looking for love. When South African Lenie Maré met Swedish Ninna Andersson on TikTok in December 2025, they were after friendship. Seven months later, they launched Bloom LGBTQ+ – a friendship app for the LGBTQ+ community, built around chosen family, wellbeing and safety. With one in three Australians reporting feelings of loneliness, according to Ending Loneliness Together’s State of the Nation report, and the World Health Organization estimating that loneliness affects one in six people worldwide, it’s a story that resonates well beyond South Africa and Sweden. Here, Lenie shares how a long-distance love story became a tech startup – and why she became an app founder at 49.
By Lenie Maré, Co-founder of Bloom LGBTQ+
If someone had told me a year ago that I would fall in love with a woman living nearly 10,000 kilometres away, I probably would have laughed. If they’d added that, at 49, I would be launching an LGBTQ+ app and publishing my first book, I might have suggested they put down whatever they were drinking.
But life has a funny way of surprising you.
A TikTok hello across 10,000 kilometres
On 7 December 2025, I met Ninna Andersson on TikTok. I was in South Africa, and she was in Sweden. We were both absolutely adamant that we weren’t looking for love. Friendship, yes. Romance? Definitely not.
Well, that plan lasted about five minutes. Or at least that’s how it feels looking back.
We started talking and somehow never stopped. We laughed about silly things, shared our worries, told each other our stories and slowly became part of each other’s everyday lives.
Of course, falling in love with someone nearly 10,000 kilometres away has its challenges. You can’t exactly pop over for coffee, and hugging a phone is remarkably unsatisfying.
In February 2026, Ninna flew to South Africa, and the woman I’d fallen in love with through a screen was finally standing in front of me. A few months later, I travelled to Sweden. We got to experience those beautiful, ordinary moments that most couples take for granted.
Why we built an LGBTQ+ friendship app
But there’s something about Ninna that changed more than my relationship status.
She brings out my creative side in a way I struggle to explain. She encourages the ideas that have always lived somewhere inside me, even the ones I wasn’t quite brave enough to pursue.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a dream of doing something meaningful for the LGBTQ+ community, particularly around loneliness and belonging.
I’ve always believed that nobody should have to feel invisible or alone simply because of who they are. I’ve thought about people living in small towns, those coming out later in life, and those who don’t necessarily need romance but desperately need friendship and someone who understands.
That dream was there long before Bloom had a name.
I just didn’t know what it was supposed to look like.
Then Ninna came into my life, and we started talking about it. A lot. We explored ideas, imagined possibilities and kept coming back to one question: what could we create that might genuinely make someone’s life a little less lonely?
Somewhere between our love story, countless conversations and all those wonderful ideas we kept dreaming up together, something began taking shape.
What if we built an app?
Becoming an app founder at 49
Now, I should mention that I’m not exactly your stereotypical technology entrepreneur. My background is in sales, business and working with people. For nearly 30 years, I’ve built relationships, listened to people’s stories and learnt how much genuine human connection matters.
At 49, becoming an app founder wasn’t exactly on my bingo card.
But Ninna and I believed in the idea. We began learning, exploring and creating together. There were moments of excitement, moments of frustration and probably more conversations about app features than any couple should reasonably have.
Friendship first, dating optional
In July 2026, Bloom LGBTQ+ launched on Android.
We created Bloom with friendship, community and chosen family at its heart. Dating is optional, because sometimes what you really need isn’t a soulmate but someone to talk to over a cup of coffee.
We incorporated translation, mental health resources, support groups and safety-focused features because belonging is about more than simply meeting people. It’s about feeling seen, supported and accepted.
Finally publishing my first book
And something else happened along the way.
I’ve been writing for most of my life. Words have always been my way of making sense of the world, but I’d never actually published anything.
Ninna encouraged that creative part of me too, and I finally self-published a little book called Soft, Loud and Still Figuring It Out. It’s a short, personal memoir, filled with reflections on life, identity and the wonderfully messy business of being human.
Apparently, turning 49 meant it was time to stop keeping all my dreams in the cupboard.
What’s next for Bloom
Bloom has since passed its first 100 downloads, our Facebook community has grown beyond 700 followers, and our story has travelled through LGBTQ+ media and podcasts internationally.
Those numbers might seem small in the technology world, but to us, they represent real people. Every download is another possibility for connection.
Our next dream is bringing Bloom to iPhone while continuing to strengthen the platform. We’re fundraising to help make that possible.
But success, to me, isn’t just about downloads or recognition.
It’s about someone sitting alone one evening, opening Bloom and finding a person who makes them feel a little less alone.
Because I know how one unexpected connection can change a life.
Mine began with a simple hello to a woman in Sweden.
I found love, rediscovered my creativity, published my first book and finally began turning a lifelong dream into something real.
And the funniest part?
We were only looking for friendship.
About Bloom LGBTQ+
Bloom LGBTQ+ is an independent LGBTQIA+ community app founded by Lenie Maré in South Africa and Ninna Andersson in Sweden. Available on Android, it focuses on friendship, chosen family, wellbeing, safety and meaningful connection.
- Launched: July 2026 on Android, with an iPhone version the next goal
- Features: friendship and community first, optional dating, translation, mental health resources, support groups and safety-focused tools
- Milestones: more than 100 downloads and 700+ Facebook followers
- Download: Bloom LGBTQ+ on Google Play
- Support the fundraiser: Help us build Bloom
If you or someone you know needs support, QLife offers free, anonymous LGBTIQ+ peer support on 1800 184 527 or via webchat at qlife.org.au.
