Author: Katherine Fleischman
A former Tesla, Apple, and Google Supply Chain Manager is applying operational expertise to solve the nation’s social isolation crisis
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 executive has made a radical career pivot—walking away from Silicon Valley’s most coveted positions to build a platform designed to restore authentic human connection.
Ebrahim (Ebra) Yavari, a Yale MBA and Georgia Tech-trained engineer, spent the past decade solving some of the world’s most complex operational challenges. At Tesla, he spearheaded negotiations that created win-win solutions unlocking over $100 million in logistics opportunities—a figure that represents roughly 15% of Tesla’s typical quarterly logistics spend. At Apple, he helped scale millions of iPhones across global markets during peak production cycles. At Google, his cost reduction initiatives saved over $6 million in 2024 alone, equivalent to the annual operational budget of a mid-sized tech startup. But this spring, he left it all behind to launch 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 seeds of 27 Circle were planted in 2021, in the aftermath of COVID-19’s social devastation. While still climbing the ranks at major tech companies, Yavari began building small communities as a way to understand social isolation at its roots. Over four years, he studied group dynamics, location psychology, and behavioral patterns—treating human connection with the same analytical rigor he’d applied to Tesla’s supply chains and Google’s data centers.
Jake Fernandes, an Engineer at Apple who worked closely with Yavari on scaling initiatives, observed his unique 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 deceptively simple platform that orchestrates in-person conversations with scientific 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 fixed 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.”
Scientific Precision Meets Human Need
Behind the simple interface lies sophisticated social architecture. Drawing from his supply chain background, Yavari designed algorithms that optimize for psychological safety, demographic diversity, and intellectual 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 caught attention in Stanford’s neuroscience community. Dr. Marta Daphnae D’Ambra, a Stanford neuroscientist, calls 27 Circle “a breakthrough in applied behavioral intervention.” She notes: “What Ebra has created isn’t just an app—it’s a scientifically-grounded social architecture that addresses loneliness at the neurological level. The 4-person group dynamic optimizes for psychological safety while the curiosity-driven format activates the brain’s reward pathways. This represents the kind of evidence-based social innovation we desperately need.”
Early campus pilots at Stanford and Santa Clara University have generated what Yavari calls “addictive meaningfulness,” with the platform expected to reach over 100 students within the first six months of deployment. 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 Unique Path to Social Innovation
Yavari’s qualifications for this challenge extend beyond his Big Tech credentials. He’s a Yale Silver Scholar, admitted to the business school’s most selective program with just a 7% acceptance rate. His undergraduate research at Georgia Tech included NASA-funded work on Mars communication systems, where he co-authored research on astronaut-Mission Control interactions. He’s also a licensed commercial pilot—a detail that speaks to his comfort with high-stakes systems and safety protocols.
“People ask why I left Google to start this,” Yavari says. “But 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 basic social skills, having missed crucial developmental interactions during college years. Mental health crises on college campuses have reached epidemic 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 apps. Where most platforms 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 shouting.
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 radically analog: 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.
