Want to meet the wonderful humans building Spoony? We snagged some time with our co-founder and CEO, Nick, to chat about his journey with chronic illness and what sparked the idea for Spoony.
This week we're talking to our co-founder and CEO, Nick, who’s based in Melbourne, Australia.
⭐ Are you neurodivergent, chronically ill, and/or disabled?
Neurodivergent and chronically ill. I also have a dynamic disability and my symptoms can be very disabling. All my conditions are invisible (meaning I look perfectly healthy), and for that reason I don’t always identify as disabled.
I know many people in the Spoony community will relate to the internal struggle I have with my own labels!
⭐ What barriers have you experienced in making friends and connecting with people?
I was living my dream, working in a job I loved until I hit 32. Then, everything changed when I became chronically ill. My world started to shrink. Eventually, I had to stop working, and on my worst days, even getting out of bed felt like a huge challenge. It was incredibly isolating. Friends I thought I could count on faded away, and most people just didn’t understand what I was going through. It felt like a double hit—getting sick and then having to face it all alone.
But eventually, I found people who got it—others who were also living with chronic illness. They became my support network.
⭐ What's been your favourite thing about building Spoony?
My favourite thing about building Spoony has been the opportunity to create a space where people feel truly seen and understood. It's been incredibly rewarding to watch our community grow and connect with each other in meaningful ways. Seeing people find support, share their experiences, and build genuine friendships has made all the hard work worthwhile. It’s not just about building an app; it’s about making a real impact on people's lives, and that’s something I’m deeply proud of.