A former Tesla, Apple, and Google operations specialist is applying supply chain expertise to solve the nation’s social isolation crisis
By Anamta Shehzadi | TechBullion Special Feature
The United States is facing a deepening loneliness crisis that the Surgeon General warns poses health risks equivalent to smoking fifteen cigarettes daily. Amid this growing national emergency, a former Google, Apple, and Tesla operations specialist has made a radical career pivot—after building expertise at Silicon Valley’s most coveted positions, he’s now developing a platform designed to restore authentic human connection.
Ebrahim (Ebra) Yavari, a Yale MBA and Georgia Tech-trained engineer, spent the past decade solving complex operational challenges across major technology companies. At Tesla, he led negotiations that improved logistics efficiency through strategic partnerships. At Apple, he contributed to scaling iPhone production across global markets during critical launch periods. At Google, his operational initiatives delivered meaningful cost reductions in 2024. After departing Google this spring, he began focusing extensively on launching 27 Circle, a mobile platform that treats social isolation not as a tech problem, but as a supply chain challenge requiring precise human logistics.
“I realized I was becoming incredibly good at scaling machines and systems, but not scaling soul,” Yavari reflects. “The same operational principles that optimize global supply chains could revolutionize how people connect.”
From Supply Chains to Social Architecture
The foundation of 27 Circle was established in 2021, following COVID-19’s impact on social connection. While advancing his career at major tech companies, Yavari began building small communities to understand social isolation at its core. Over four years, he studied group dynamics, location psychology, and behavioral patterns—applying the same analytical approach he’d used in optimizing Tesla’s supply chains and Google’s operational systems.
Jake Fernandes, an Engineer at Apple who collaborated with Yavari on scaling initiatives, observed his distinctive approach: “Ebra has this rare ability to see complex systems from multiple angles simultaneously. While most of us were focused on the technical implementation, he was always thinking three steps ahead—considering not just how to build something, but how to build it in a way that creates sustainable, positive outcomes for everyone involved. That systems thinking is exactly what’s needed to tackle something as complex as human connection.”
What emerged was 27 Circle, a platform that orchestrates in-person conversations with operational precision. Users don’t swipe through profiles or build digital personas. Instead, they’re automatically matched into 4-person groups for 40-minute, curiosity-driven conversations at designated locations and times. The app handles all logistics—location, timing, group composition—while participants focus entirely on genuine dialogue.
“It’s not a dating app. It’s not networking. It’s a curiosity app,” Yavari explains. “We’re engineering serendipity.”
Behavioral Science Meets Human Need
Behind the simple interface lies thoughtful social design. Drawing from his supply chain background, Yavari developed matching algorithms that optimize for psychological safety, demographic diversity, and conversational chemistry. The 4-person group size is intentional—large enough to prevent awkward silences, small enough to ensure everyone participates. The curiosity themes, ranging from “What’s a belief you’ve recently changed?” to “How do you define success?”, are designed to bypass small talk and activate deeper engagement.
The early results have attracted attention from researchers studying social connection. Academic observers note that 27 Circle represents an innovative approach to applied behavioral intervention, addressing loneliness through evidence-based social architecture. The 4-person group dynamic creates an environment conducive to psychological safety while the curiosity-driven format encourages meaningful engagement.
Initial campus pilots at Stanford and Santa Clara University have generated what Yavari calls “addictive meaningfulness,” with positive early response from participating students. Students describe the experience as “refreshingly analog” and “the opposite of social media.” One Stanford participant noted: “I’ve learned more about myself in three 27 Circle conversations than in months of therapy. There’s something about strangers asking genuine questions—it bypasses all your usual defenses.”
A Distinctive Path to Social Innovation
Yavari’s background for this challenge extends beyond his technology industry experience. He’s a Yale MBA graduate, having completed the business school’s selective Silver Scholar program. His undergraduate work at Georgia Tech included research on long-distance communication systems, contributing to studies on human-technology interaction in challenging environments. He’s also a licensed commercial pilot—experience that reinforces his comfort with complex systems and safety protocols.
“When people ask about my transition from Google to this work,” Yavari says, “I see it as the same work—optimizing complex systems for human flourishing. The only difference is the product. Instead of optimizing servers, I’m optimizing conversations.”
Addressing a National Crisis
The timing reflects both personal conviction and national urgency. Beyond the Surgeon General’s warnings, research shows Gen Z reporting unprecedented levels of loneliness, with 73% saying they sometimes feel alone—a rate nearly double that of Baby Boomers. Post-COVID, many young adults struggle with fundamental social skills, having missed crucial developmental interactions during formative college years. Mental health challenges on college campuses have reached concerning proportions, with students increasingly isolated despite being surrounded by peers.
Yavari sees this as more than a mental health issue—it’s an innovation challenge. “We solved global supply chains, put supercomputers in everyone’s pocket, and landed rockets on drone ships,” he says. “But we haven’t solved the basic human need for meaningful connection. That’s not a technology problem. That’s a design problem.”
Optimizing for Impact, Not Engagement
His approach differs markedly from existing social platforms. Where most apps optimize for engagement and retention—with the average social media user spending 2.5 hours daily scrolling—27 Circle optimizes for impact and transformation. There are no likes, comments, or feeds to scroll. No premium features or subscription tiers. Success is measured not by time spent in-app, but by the quality of real-world interactions the platform facilitates.
“We’re not trying to be the next social media giant,” Yavari explains. “We’re trying to be the bridge back to genuine human connection. If we succeed, people will spend less time on their phones, not more.”
The platform’s expansion strategy reflects Yavari’s operations background. Rather than seeking viral growth, he’s planning measured rollouts to additional universities, with careful attention to local culture and community needs. He’s exploring partnerships with residence halls, student organizations, and mental health resources. The goal isn’t just to scale users, but to scale impact.
A Vision for Social Transformation
Looking ahead, Yavari envisions 27 Circle as a catalyst for broader social change. “I want to create a curiosity renaissance,” he says. “The future belongs to those who know how to ask better questions, not just give better answers.” He sees potential applications in workplace team-building, community integration, and even conflict resolution—anywhere genuine dialogue could replace polarized discourse.
For now, his focus remains grounded in the simple power of strangers sitting together, asking real questions, and discovering common humanity. “One conversation, four people, forty minutes,” he says. “That’s all it takes to remember what authentic connection feels like.”
In a world increasingly mediated by screens and algorithms, Yavari is betting on something fundamentally human: the transformative power of people showing up, looking each other in the eye, and engaging in the lost art of genuine conversation. If 27 Circle succeeds, it won’t be because of sophisticated technology or viral marketing. It will be because people rediscover something they didn’t realize they were missing—and choose to experience it again.
