Happenstance

Happenstance is a search engine for your professional network. You connect accounts like Gmail, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Google Calendar, and then you can ask it natural language questions about the people you know. For example, you could search for "pre-seed AI investor in SF" or "VP of Engineering at a fintech startup," and it will scan all your connections and their extended networks to find relevant matches. It presents results with details like mutual contacts and a relevance score.

The tool works by using an AI agent to process your search query and analyze the aggregated data from your connected services. What sets it apart is the ability to create shared groups, pooling the connections of an entire team or company into a single, much larger searchable database. It also offers multiple ways to access the search, including a web interface, a command-line tool, and integrations with popular AI platforms like ChatGPT and Claude.

This tool is most useful for professionals who need to leverage relationships for business goals. Startup founders can use it to find the right investors. Recruiters and hiring managers can identify potential candidates through their team's combined networks. Sales teams can research the best contacts within a target company. It turns the often-hidden value of your network into a concrete, queryable resource.