A networking app that promises to move professional relationships off the screen and into real-world clubs and meet-ups has drawn attention in Tampa, alongside questions about how applicants are admitted.
Clockout, which first gained popularity in New York City in 2024, has expanded into the Tampa area as an alternative to conventional platforms such as LinkedIn. Users apply to join before they can access the service’s groups and events.
Clockout membership claims disputed
Online discussion has included claims that prospective members must earn at least $80,000 a year and pass an intelligence test. Clockout rejects both suggestions.
The company says there is no required job title or salary for membership. Applicants are asked to complete a quiz, while their applications are reviewed before they are allowed to join.
The approval process is intended to create a more selective community of professionals, rather than an open platform where anyone can immediately create an account.
Sebastian Bolivar, a residential mortgage lender from Wesley Chapel, decided to apply after hearing about Clockout from a friend. He was accepted within a few days.
Looking back, he believes the application process may have helped to generate interest in the app.
“I think, looking back, it’s just great marketing, right? I think nobody wants FOMO for fear of missing out. So I think it was their way of getting people to go, Hey, can I get in, and I think once you apply, it gives you some crazy number, like your 300,000th in line or something,” he said.
From online groups to Tampa meet-ups
After joining, Mr Bolivar created a group called Tampa Real Estate Mastermind and organised three meet-ups for people working in the sector.
The app is designed to connect users through clubs based on professional interests, with the aim of encouraging face-to-face conversations rather than relying solely on digital contacts.
However, Mr Bolivar said the events did not attract as many people as he had expected. Between 25 and 30 people would sometimes confirm they were attending, but only about eight to 10 ultimately turned up.
Although he was accepted into Clockout and helped establish a local group, he said the platform had not become his main way of meeting professional contacts.
He now prefers more established options, including running clubs and free networking events.
Clockout markets itself as a social network for professionals, combining online introductions with local clubs and events. Its application process, however, has become a central part of the conversation surrounding its arrival in Tampa.
