Today we’d like to introduce you to Geneva Hancock.
Hi Geneva, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My name is Geneva, born and raised in Boston, MA and have lived in LA for the past seven years. My career path has been a bit all over the place, but currently I work in Creator Partnerships at Linktree and am the CEO and Cofounder of Court, a connection app that lets you meet the people around you.
I had the idea for Court just over a year ago when I was sitting at a bar with some friends, wishing there was an app that let me see who around me was single. Like every other single person on the planet, I hated the dating apps and really wanted to meet somebody in real life. I couldn’t believe something like that didn’t already exist, so I decided to build it myself. I worked early mornings, late nights, and weekends on the business plan and vision for Court, but found myself at a standstill looking for someone who could help me build it.
I reconnected with my technical cofounder and old friend Nick in November of 2024, and we started building Court together in January 2025. Nick shares the vision I have for Court but also brings new perspectives. He’s a kick-ass designer and engineer who built Court from the ground up, and the app would not exist (or look as sexy) without him.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I can’t imagine there is a single first time founder who would describe their journey as smooth and easy, but it’s definitely been rewarding. There have been many late nights and early mornings, but to me, it doesn’t really feel like work because I’m so passionate about Court’s mission. I’m building a product that I genuinely want to use and see in the world, and there’s nothing more motivating than that. The overwhelmingly positive feedback from our users only fuels us to keep going and continue creating something that brings real, in-person connection back to people’s everyday lives.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Court?
Court is a connection app that lets you meet the people around you simply by checking into your location. No swiping or messaging, just check in and see who else is there and open to dating, friendship, or networking. You can check in to your favorite everyday places like bars, coffee shops, and gyms, and set a conversation starter from our list of prompts to make approaching someone in-person and breaking the ice easier.
As I mentioned, I really do not like dating apps. They’ve never worked for me and I think they’ve ruined our ability to approach each other in real life. What sets Court apart from other connection apps is that there’s no swiping or messaging, it’s designed to get you off your phone and talking to the people around you. It encourages you to approach others by showing you who around you is single, so you don’t have to worry about someone’s relationship status before you go say hi. We also give users the option to display their sexual orientation on their profile, a feature that has been really well received by the LGBTQ+ community.
I love our branding. The name “Court” comes from the old-school term of courting someone, but it also allows us to play into a lot of legal and sports-related puns. “Ball’s in your Court”, “See you on Court”, that sort of thing.
Something I want readers to know is that we are just getting started! We can’t wait to bring Court to every city across the US to get everyone checked in and meeting people in person. Follow us on socials @court.app to stay informed about events in your area and how you can get involved!
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
Since I work in entertainment, I really think LA is the place to be. Every touring artist has a show here, you can go to early screenings of movies, and I’m surrounded by so many creative and passionate people. Also, this might sound cliché, but I really do love the weather. Growing up with brutal Northeast winters, I don’t take the year-round sunshine for granted.
What I like least is easily the cost of living. I will probably be renting until I’m 45 unless I can stop buying $9 lattes.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.getcourt.app/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/court.app
- Other: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/court-irl/id6743569177
