CollabGPS founder Ted Buras is preparing to launch Joystiq, a new location-based app designed for gay men and trans men, with a public introduction scheduled for Atlanta Pride ahead of its fall release. The platform aims to integrate hookups, chat, and real-world community features, with profits supporting LGBTQ nonprofits.

Joystiq's Features and Vision

Joystiq is described as a location-based hookup, chat, and dating app primarily for gay men, also welcoming trans men. The app is slated for a fall launch on the App Store and Google Play. Its features will include location-based discovery, private chat, photos, and private albums. Additionally, Joystiq will offer group chat, local event listings with ticket-purchasing capabilities, and tools for users to host their own private events.

A representative for the app stated that the goal is to combine hookups, conversation, and real-world community within a single platform, while maintaining focus on the user experience. Buras indicated that Joystiq emerged from a desire to provide an alternative to platforms driven by constant upsells and corporate decision-making. He expressed a commitment to building a community-first platform, basing decisions on users and the broader needs of the LGBTQ community rather than shareholders.

Profits generated by Joystiq are designated to support LGBTQ nonprofits. The initial beneficiaries will be The Colorful Colfax Project and the Gays With Kids Academy.

Early Introduction and Background

Joystiq will have an early public introduction at Atlanta Pride, taking place from October 10-11 at Atlanta’s Piedmont Park. Ted Buras will host a tent at the event, offering attendees hands-on demonstrations of the app on devices available at the booth, prior to its fall release. Users interested in following Joystiq’s progress and receiving launch updates can visit Joystiq.app.

Buras's involvement with Joystiq follows his work on CollabGPS, a networking platform for content creators. He discussed his plans for Joystiq during an appearance on the podcast "In the Thickk of It" with host Amanda Thickk. The episode, titled "Ted Buras: He Built the “LinkedIn for Content Creators”," covered topics including creator networking, entrepreneurship, and fatherhood. Buras shared his vision for an LGBTQ-focused social and hookup platform that prioritizes community and directs a portion of its success back into the LGBTQ community.

Ted Buras and CollabGPS

Ted Buras founded CollabGPS, a platform he developed after experiencing frustrations as a content creator. He described moving from behind the camera to content creation himself, encountering difficulties in finding legitimate collaborators, vetting potential partners, and organizing shoots across various social platforms. The "In the Thickk of It" interview also addressed issues such as shadowbanning, creator verification, professionalism, model releases, and 2257 documentation, alongside Buras's intentions to expand CollabGPS beyond adult content.

The conversation on the podcast extended to Buras's personal life, including his journey to becoming more comfortable with his sexuality later in life. He also discussed his shift from a risk-averse approach to investing in his own ideas, and the challenges of balancing entrepreneurship with raising his six-year-old son. Buras noted that the interview covered a range of topics beyond just the app, including the motivations behind CollabGPS, lessons learned from his own content creation experiences, and how fatherhood influenced his perspective on risk and the future. He emphasized the importance of building platforms that genuinely serve their communities.

The "In the Thickk of It" interview, "Ted Buras: He Built the “LinkedIn for Content Creators”," is available on platforms such as YouTube and Apple Podcasts. The interview was recorded in Denver, CO, on September 9, 2026, and was posted on September 13th, 2026, by Roger T. Pipe.

Key Facts

  • CollabGPS founder Ted Buras is launching Joystiq, a new location-based app.
  • Joystiq is designed for gay men and trans men, offering hookup, chat, and dating features.
  • The app will include location-based discovery, private and group chat, photos, private albums, and local event listings with ticket purchasing.
  • Joystiq is scheduled for a fall debut on the App Store and Google Play.
  • An early public introduction will occur at Atlanta Pride from October 10-11, where Buras will offer demonstrations.
  • Profits from Joystiq will support LGBTQ nonprofits, starting with The Colorful Colfax Project and the Gays With Kids Academy.