Alum Launches ‘Phomo’ App for Sharing with Close Friends

Built by two cousins, new app uses a daily caption prompt to encourage users to share real, everyday moments with friends and family

Key Highlights

• Phomo is a social media app created by Connecticut cousins Brendan Gagner and Elliott Hyde, designed to prioritize authentic sharing within close friend groups rather than with the general public
• The platform features a daily universal caption that prompts users to select and post matching photos from their camera images, encouraging real, everyday storytelling
• Key features include a trophy system for highlighting standout posts and a post-to-view model that requires users to share content before accessing others’ posts
• Following a four-month prototype test with 40 users and iterative feedback, the founders partnered with a Philadelphia-based development agency to support further development ahead of a launch this month on iOS and Android

At first, it was a normal night of watching Sunday Night Football for cousins Brendan Gagner ’26 and Elliott Hyde. But conversation sparked a new business idea for Hyde, and before the game ended, he and Gagner were already brainstorming the concept for their new social media app, Phomo.

Phomo is a phone application that releases one universal caption each day, prompting users to find matching photos from their camera images. The app differs from platforms like Instagram by focusing on authentic, real content for close friend groups, rather than for public followers.

The app’s slogan is “Bringing your camera roll back to life.” It features a trophy system where users can give one trophy per day to their favorite posts, and it requires users to make a post to see others’ content.

“Most of the people who’ve tried the Phomo app aren’t trying to build massive followings. Instead, they’re sharing with a close circle of friends and family,” Gagner said. “The content is more personal, with inside jokes, photos from a night out, or everyday moments. It’s not about showing off; it’s about sharing authentic experiences with people you know.”

Gagner graduated from Sacred Heart University this year with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Hyde graduated from Eastern Connecticut State University in 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in finance.

In the initial stages of the app development, the team hired a freelancer to help develop a prototype and ran the application for four months with 40 of their closest friends. After the trial run, they received positive feedback and hired ChopDawg, a development agency based out of Philadelphia, PA, to take them to the next level.

“Being on Sacred Heart’s campus and spending time with my friends made me realize how many memories we were creating and how meaningful it would be to share them with a close group of people,” Gagner said. “That sense of community is what makes it special. I think every college campus has that, and it gives students, and even recent graduates, a way to relive those memories long after they’ve happened.”

The application is set to be released this month on the App Store and Google Play. “After launch, our focus is growing the app while continuing to improve the user experience,” Hyde said. “Right now, we’re focused on social media, but once students return to campus in September, we’ll be visiting colleges, handing out promotional materials, and encouraging students to download the app.”

The biggest piece of advice Gagner and Hyde have for students looking to develop an app is not to be afraid to take risks. Starting something new is intimidating, but taking that leap has led to opportunities they never imagined. Hyde said, “Even if the app doesn’t succeed, the experience we’ve gained has been invaluable. I wouldn’t trade everything we’ve learned throughout the process for anything.”