Categories
The Blog The Business Blog

Pivoting Into Success; Top 4 Tips to Starting An App-Based Business

By Mike Askew 

There’s no doubt about it, starting a business will be one of the most difficult challenges that you will ever undertake. The investment emotionally, financially and the amount of time it requires means that creating an app is out of the question for most people. If you are in a position where your idea is becoming a reality, we have put together some thoughts from the belong journey that may help you and your project. 

Friends and family lie

We love our family and friends, and they love us too, that’s why you should never use them as a sounding board to validate your idea. They tell you what you want to hear and that your idea is revolutionary, this information despite its good intentions sends you down the wrong path and you will burn through valuable resources.

Build it and they’ll come

We knew that we were onto a winning formula with belong version 1 unfortunately, no one else seemed to care. We hadn’t validated the idea correctly and therefore spent precious resources building something that no one really wanted.

You don’t need to write a single line of code to develop screens for an app to discuss your product with prospects (people you don’t know). Who cares if it’s non-functional, you are validating your idea and the solution.  

Sure, until your solution is in the hands of customers, you’ll never truly know how they will interact with your product. But if your idea isn’t a problem worth solving prototyping is cheap, fast and will help you through the process of envisaging your solution. You can find thousands of designers on Fiverr.com or if you know someone to help you out even better.  

Make sure you validate the whole business, including how you will make money. I recommend checking out “the lean canvas” to help you with your checklist of what you need to validate but here are some headlines: –

·       What is the problem?

·       Who has this problem?

·       Is the problem worth solving?   

·       How will you make money?

Choosing the right developers

We didn’t, and learnt the hard way, again burning through savings with a development team that wasn’t capable. The world is a big place full of great development teams that work remotely. Do your due diligence and select wisely – Clutch.com is a great place for reviews.

Keep it lean

Don’t sweat the small stuff, until you have a problem worth solving and the shape of a product customer will use, the finer details don’t matter. If it solves a problem people will accept bugs and a lack of nice features. There is no point in polishing something that no one wants to use. Find something that people like then start refining it.

Get specific

Write detailed and very boring specifications of every possible action and reaction for each feature. Couple this with wireframes and fully-fledged designs. This will ensure your expectations are fully aligned with your development team, and that nothing is missed.

80/20

Now you’ve written your specifications, cut the development time by half, you will have way too many features for your first release. This will force you to focus on the features that are critical (must have) from those nice to have features. What are the big features that will drive the most value and bring your product to life? This will save time and money, you need to learn fast, and you can always add them later if/when your product has traction.

Downloads are easy

Data doesn’t lie and measuring success is a key part of learning whether your product is well received. You need to gain insight into how people are using your product. Do they come back a day, week, or month from now? If they do, well done! Using analytics is fundamental to understanding user behaviour. You should integrate the basics ready for your launch. We love Mixpanel here at belong. Vanity metrics like downloads are useless, it’s the actions users are taking (or not taking) that are the difference between success and failure.

Crash course 

The books below are worth their weight in gold and will save you time and resources.

  1. The Four Step to the Epiphany 
  2. Crossing the Chasm
  3. The Art of War
  4. The Art of the Pitch
  5. The Lean Start up
  6. How to Build a Billion-Dollar App
  7. Getting Things Done
  8. The 5am Club
  9. Start with Why
  10. Venture Deals 
  11. Startup CEO

You can thank me later

belong today

With 46% MoM Growth and 40% of that being organic, our retention rates and key metrics are on par with some of the largest social apps in the world. 

We are so grateful to provide a supportive, inclusive platform to an amazing community, classed by many as a “home from home” and “Dubai’s social hub”. 

The highs and lows of this journey have been well worth it. But there’s much more to be done, therefore we remain focused and motivated.

Nothing good comes out of comfort zones. Getting out in the world and understanding your strengths/weaknesses and addressing them, with the will to say “It can and done” is key to your development both in business and life in general.

Categories
The Blog The Business Blog

Sourcing your Team; 6 Hiring Tips for New Businesses

At ASKWHO we’re lucky to have the most amazing team. However, it’s not always smooth sailing and you learn a lot of things along the way. So we’d love to share with you some of our tips for when you’re sourcing the team for your new business.

1 Don’t hire yourself

It may seem simple but it’s very easy to hire what you know. Make sure that the people you hire are different from you, with unique skillsets. You need to find people that will bring something different to your business and help it thrive. When beginning to source your team, individual differences are your strength.

2 Hire people you get on with

It’s so important for you and your colleagues to enjoy work. That’s why it’s important to hire people that have a complementary personality within a team. Organisational culture depends on attracting, onboarding and retaining quality staff that support and work well with each other. Once this is achieved there is a cohesion that boosts productivity.

3 Passion passion passion

I’ll say it again… passion. Recruit people who are fundamentally driven by your mission – it should fulfil their purpose or underlying values. In return, you will get a happier more productive workforce with determination to succeed. This offers a motivation that you cannot find in someone who is just there to “do the job” and pay the bills. Remember when you love something, it won’t feel like work.

4 Hire people that ask questions

If at the end of an interview the participant has no questions to ask – chances are they are not that interested in the role. A good candidate should be inquisitive in what the role entails. The interview process is a two-way street – both employer and candidate should be assessing the opportunity to collaborate so questions from the interviewee are essential.

5 Hire people better than you

You need to be constantly on the lookout for talent within your industry. If you leave an interview in awe of a candidate don’t let them go. This new talent is the key to growing your business.

6 Take care of the employees that take care of you

One of the most important things that you will ever do is reward your employees; especially those who stand out from the crowd. Rewarding and recognizing your team has been proven to improve organisational values, enhance team efforts and increase customer satisfaction.


Sourcing the right team is the first step to growing a thriving business. Take the time at the interview stage to ensure this candidate is the right fit for the role and your company. Once hired, take care of them. When you have a team built on these 6 areas, you will reach new heights together, and along the way – have a laugh too.

Download Now

Categories
The Blog The Business Blog

Pivoting Into Success; Top 8 Tips to Starting An App-Based Business

There’s no doubt about it, starting a business will be one of the most difficult challenges that you will ever undertake. The investment emotionally, financially and the amount of time it requires means that creating an app is out of the question for most people. If you are in a position where your idea is becoming a reality, we have put together some thoughts from the ASKWHO journey that may help you and your project. 

Friends and family lie

We love our family and friends, and they love us too, that’s why you should never use them as a sounding board to validate your idea. They tell you what you want to hear and that your idea is revolutionary, this information despite its good intentions sends you down the wrong path and you will burn through valuable resources.

Build It And They’ll Come
You don’t need to write a single line of code to develop screens for an app idea and discuss your product and its prospects (with people you don’t know). Who cares if it’s non-functional, you are validating your idea and the solution.

Sure, until your solution is in the hands of customers, you’ll never truly know how they will interact with your product. But if your idea isn’t a problem worth solving prototyping is cheap, fast and will help you through the process of envisaging your solution. You can find thousands of designers on Fiverr.com or if you know someone to help you out even better.  

Make sure you validate the whole business, including how you will make money. I recommend checking out “the lean canvas” to help you with your checklist of what you need to validate but here are some headlines: –

·       What is the problem?

·       Who has this problem?

·       Is the problem worth solving?   

·       How will you make money?

Choosing the right developers

We didn’t, and learnt the hard way, again burning through savings with a development team that wasn’t capable. The world is a big place full of great development teams that work remotely. Do your due diligence and select wisely – Clutch.com is a great place for reviews.

Keep It Lean
Don’t sweat the small stuff, until you have a problem worth solving and the shape of a product customers will use, the finer details don’t matter. If it solves a problem people will accept bugs and a lack of nice features. There is no point in polishing something that no one wants to use. Find something that people like then start refining it.

Get specific

Write detailed and very boring specifications of every possible action and reaction for each feature. Couple this with wireframes and fully-fledged designs. This will ensure your expectations are fully aligned with your development team, and that nothing is missed.

80/20

Now you’ve written your specifications, cut the development time by half, you will have way too many features for your first release. This will force you to focus on the features that are critical (must have) from those nice to have features. What are the big features that will drive the most value and bring your product to life? This will save time and money, you need to learn fast, and you can always add them later if/when your product has traction.

Downloads are easy

Data doesn’t lie and measuring success is a key part of learning whether your product is well received. You need to gain insight into how people are using your product. Do they come back a day, week, or month from now? If they do, well done! Using analytics is fundamental to understanding user behaviour. You should integrate the basics ready for your launch. We love Mixpanel here at ASKWHO. Vanity metrics like downloads are useless, it’s the actions users are taking (or not taking) that are the difference between success and failure.

Crash course 

The books below are worth their weight in gold and will save you time and resources.

  1. The Four Step to the Epiphany 
  2. Crossing the Chasm
  3. The Art of War
  4. The Art of the Pitch
  5. The Lean Start up
  6. How to Build a Billion-Dollar App
  7. Getting Things Done
  8. The 5am Club
  9. Start with Why
  10. Venture Deals 
  11. Startup CEO

You can thank me later!

ASKWHO today

With 46% MoM Growth and 40% of that being organic, our retention rates and key metrics are on par with some of the largest social apps in the world. 

We are so grateful to provide a supportive, inclusive platform to an amazing community, classed by many as a “home from home” and “Dubai’s social hub”. 

The highs and lows of this journey have been well worth it. But there’s much more to be done, therefore we remain focused and motivated.

Nothing good comes out of comfort zones. Getting out in the world and understanding your strengths/weaknesses and addressing them, with the will to say “It can and will be done” is key to your development both in business and life in general.

Download now

Categories
The Blog The Business Blog

The Most Popular Groups On belong

No matter what your hobbies or interests are, we have the group for you. If you’re in Dubai and you’re ready to make friends and learn more about this amazing city, you need to be on ASKWHO. Chat, recommend, and meet up with people who love the same things you do. 

With our amazing, active community, you can talk about your interests, inspirations, recommend the next best restaurant, and get involved with the conversation. We have groups for lifestyle, travel, pre-loved, technology – and that’s just the beginning. 

We want to make social media social again. Are you with us?

Here are some of our most popular groups and recent highlights from the people who love them…

Outdoors

Find secret spots and meet up with like-minded people for a walk. A member recently climbed the Wadi Ghalilah, a popular rock climbing spot, posting a picture to show off his view. Maria wanted to know where the best access to the desert was, and a hiker also raved about the 1484 Puro restaurant, the highest restaurant in the UAE with stunning views and great food. 

Wellness

Whether you’re a nama-stay in class or a yoga on the go, we have lots of members in this group offering advice and inspirational quotes. 

One member let the group know she was at the Emirates golf club lounge plunge pool to recover from a boozy brunch whilst another member recommended some stretching and aero-stretching classes at the Dubai Marina.

Lots of people loved this motivating quote that was posted to the group: ”Sometimes the smallest step in the right direction ends up being the biggest step of your life. Tiptoe if you must but take a step.”

Fitness 

In the UAE there are 800 fitness clubs – that’s plenty of opportunities to work out. The latest figures show around 523,000 people are gym members, making up 6% of the population. 

That means lots of gyms and classes to get involved with, but why not head to the ASKWHO Fitness group and see which ones people are recommending? You could find a gym buddy or a fitness friend to keep you motivated and accountable. 

We had one member wanting to find an early morning running partner. Could that be you? Someone was also recommending a local weight lifting class. There’s plenty of fitness motivation to be found here.

Meet Up

Looking for something new to do? A recent but popular addition, our Meet Up group is the place to post about events or things you fancy doing with others. So if you’re ready to meet new people near you, this group makes it easier than ever. It’s time to get involved with the conversation. 

Ready to Get Started? 

If you’re in Dubai and you want to find like-minded people to chat or hang out with, you need to be on ASKWHO. We have many more groups on offer, such as… 

  • Arts
  • Fitness
  • Knowledge
  • Life
  • Outdoors
  • Pre Loved
  • Property 
  • Sport
  • Technology 
  • Travel 
  • Wellness
  • Women Only 

There really is a group for everyone. 

If you’re in the hiking group why not organise a group outing? Or you’re a part of the Wellness chat why not head to a guided meditation together? Get those gains together in the fitness group. 

Use these ASKWHO groups to organise outings and turn your online friends into real ones. Are you ready for your social life to get a lot busier?

Download Now

Categories
The Blog The Business Blog

Meet belong; Hear From The Founder

We’re ASKWHO. An inclusive and supportive platform bringing like-minded people together in Dubai. Founded by Matt Gaziano and Mike Askew and backed by a brilliant dynamic team, they have brought to life the new social hub of Dubai. Hear from Mike about why and how ASKWHO came to be. 

Why did you begin ASKWHO?

I moved from London to Riyadh in my early twenties to work as a Project Manager. I travelled there alone and quickly realized that meeting new like-minded people was very challenging, to say the least.

After living in Riyadh away from my family and friends, I began to notice a negative impact on my emotional and mental wellbeing. I then moved to Dubai and believed that it would be easier to meet new people. In reality, it wasn’t and it became apparent that others were facing similar challenges. As a result of this, Matt and I came together to bring this concept to life that is needed in today’s world. 

We went to market in late 2021 and after 2 years of highs and lows, iterations and one major pivot, we have delivered a product to market that people adore.

How is it different to other social media platforms?

ASKWHO has been described as a “home from home” as we are focused on connecting people in the city where we live. This is different from other social media platforms. I believe they should be classed as entertainment platforms that, when you take a step back, actually drive very little value into our lives. These platforms can bring out unrealistic versions of ourselves that don’t reflect who we are or what we actually care about. 

With ASKWHO, you can meet like-minded people who live in your city. It’s a unique opportunity to share, gain knowledge and meet up in real life. The value we promote is making new friends and there isn’t another social media app that does it quite like us.

How does ASKWHO help? 

Having lived in the middle east for over 8 years, I saw the need to begin a community. Facebook groups weren’t up to standard. The disorganization and difficulty of using them made it challenging to meet like-minded people. We aim for people in the region to seek the benefits of real human interaction and generally improve their lives and mental wellbeing. Providing local people with a community that they can belong to and depend on is at the root of what we do. 

How is it designed to nurture mental health and improve people’s wellness? 

ASKWHO makes it easy for people to immerse themselves with positive people who are in their city. Social apps are only as good as the people using them. Our community is extremely supportive and connected. It’s fantastic to see how people have come together within the app, and meetups are arranged on a range of topics most weekends through ASKWHO. The goal of this app is to help people to experience more in life.

What are your expansion plans for the future?

I often hear founders give statements such as “we want to conquer the world”. However, we focus on the community and the people within it. We are very grateful for our journey so far and if we can support people in other countries later, we would be honoured.

Join us on our platform that is designed to improve people’s mental health and combat loneliness. The organized group format enables users to make friends with like-minded individuals, share tips and information about their city, and feel a better sense of belonging.

Download now

Categories
The Blog The Business Blog

Community Matters; The Value of belong in Dubai

We’re here to bring a new social hub to Dubai. Why? Because community is the core of civilization. But finding like-minded people in a new place can be difficult. That’s the problem co-founder Mike Askew faced. Hear about his experience and how ASKWHO is bringing a new community to Dubai.

The Background

Moving from London to Riyadh and then to Dubai, my co-founder Matthew and I both experienced how hard it can be to make a ‘home away from home’ and find new friends with similar interests. From this, the idea for ASKWHO was born. We both strongly believe that nobody should feel isolated, struggle to make friends or experience a sense of inadequacy because of the unrealistic spectacles they see on social media.

The Importance

Extensive research has proven the importance of community for our physical and mental wellbeing. In fact, “People who are more socially connected to family, friends, or their community are happier, physically healthier and live longer, with fewer mental health problems than people who are less well connected.”

But when you move to a new place, you are no longer physically connected to your friends and family so the emphasis becomes solely on community. Therefore, community becomes one of the main pillars of our social life that takes care of our happiness, physical well-being and mental health. It became apparent that we needed to provide this community for expats living in Dubai.

The Solution

With this in mind, we developed a dedicated group app focused purely on your city, we have complex algorithms within the app that help match like-minded people. We’ve set the groups ourselves so they’re easy to join and cover over 150 topics ranging from Fitness, Foodies, Lifestyle, Knowledge and Outdoors.

We provide a supportive space for people to share advice, and recommendations, find out what’s happening, arrange meet-ups and do more together in real life. We can’t wait to continue on this journey and bring a safe community to more people.