Isabella Epstein - Class of 2012

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/ Apr 26, 2025 /

Isabella Epstein is a problem-solver. As a twenty-something woman living in New York City, she wanted to make new friends and enlarge her social circles. But despite being an outgoing and friendly person living in a city with countless museums, restaurants, gyms, synagogues, and more, she found that she — and her friends — felt surrounded by strangers, facing a loneliness epidemic. So she decided to do something about it.

A graduate of Middlebury College, Isabella left her job in investment banking and has embarked upon a whirlwind mission to help young adults connect with people based on age, location, and/or activity. She is creating a startup company called Kndrd (pronounced “Kindred”), aimed at helping people find activities that interest them, connect with people who share similar interests, and coordinate plans to meet in person. Her efforts have been gaining traction: she was featured in an article in Business Insider, was recently invited to present at the South by Southwest Conference about her Emerging Startup, and spoke at the Social Discovery Insights Conference about the need for a refreshed approach to social networking, and her strategy for building “IRL” (in real life) communities. She looks forward to helping people establish friendships over a Pickleball game or at a themed happy hour.

Isabella notes that Schechter had a profound impact on her: she felt surrounded by a close-knit community of friends and teachers. She remembers when one of her parents became ill and the Schechter community provided meals for her family. And it’s not just the other students or families that make Schechter special for her. “For the past 20 years, my Schechter teachers have been supporting me and rooting for me.” She still stays in touch with some of her teachers, who check in with her and act as a sounding board for her ideas. 

How did Schechter shape Isabella’s drive as an entrepreneur? She remembers that Rabbi Chatinover used to collect cans and bottles to raise money to support the 8th grade trip to Israel. From that, she learned that anyone can jump in and make a difference in the world.

“In all the years since I’ve graduated,” she said, “I haven’t found a community like Schechter.”

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