David Good is a neurodivergent community builder, speaker, and social intelligence strategist who turned personal adversity into a mission to help others thrive. After a car accident and chronic illness ended his career in software development, David set out to create what he wished had existed for him: safe, welcoming spaces where shy, socially anxious, and neurodivergent people could make real-world connections.

Drawing on his own lived experience—and a unique ability to see systems and strategies others miss—David founded International Friend Connection (IFC) in 2014. What began as one small Meetup group has grown into a global, mission-driven social enterprise with over 50 chapters in 20 countries, more than 40,000 members, and a volunteer team of 100+ organizers. Together, they have hosted over 4,500 free events, many of which have helped people form lasting friendships, relationships, and support systems across geographic and cultural barriers.

David’s work has now generated over $5 million in measurable social ROI, including mental health improvements, volunteer time, and economic activity—on just $5,000–$10,000 in personal investment including a small amount of member donations. This level of high-impact, low-cost innovation earned him national attention: he was invited by Meetup CEO David Siegel to speak at Meetup’s 20th Anniversary Celebration in Manhattan, where he represented the entire global organizer community.

David has been formally recognized with multiple Presidential Service Medals, was named a Point of Light by the foundation created by President George H.W. Bush, and has been featured on ABC, NBC, and FOX for his efforts to address the loneliness epidemic.

In 2023, David was appointed Meetup’s founding Brand Ambassador, and in 2024, he became Chief of Global Affairs for The Octopus Movement, a Netherlands-based think tank focused on nonlinear intelligence and system change.

Today, David leads The Friend Magnet, a coaching and education platform designed specifically for shy engineers, developers, and neurodivergent professionals. His livestream classes, strategic frameworks, and values-based social intelligence tools have helped thousands of people build authentic confidence and connection—without compromising who they are.

He has received public praise from figures like Bob Burg, coauthor of The Go-Giver, who called David “one of [his] heroes,” as well as senior executives from Meetup.com, who described his work as “invaluable” and “representative of the best of what community can be.”

Despite the obstacles he’s faced, David continues to scale his vision with creativity and integrity. His next goal: to help one million people connect in real life over the next ten years—and to prove that belonging and psychological safety can be engineered at scale.