Topic-based Social Platform ASKWHO raises $1M
The new social platform pioneering the power of connection by common interest, ASKWHO raises $1M in its SEED round
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The UAE-based social platform ASKWHO raises $1M in its SEED round which was led by well-known angel investors. With this fundraise, ASKWHO joins a growing list of start-ups that are thriving after launching into the region’s vibrant ecosystem. The Social Platorm also bolsters Dubai’s reputation as a leading destination for talent and entrepreneurs.
Designed to improve people’s mental health and promote a sense of community, ASKWHO invites users to join localized group discussion pages that focus on particular interests such as fitness, outdoors, art, lifestyle, travel, and wellness within a certain city.
The UAE has been a vibrant hub of concept innovations and surely of venture capital as recorded in our State of Startup Funding- 2022 Emerging Venture Markets Free Report. While investors leaned towards later-stage deals in 2021, the VC space left room for daring ideas that received impeccable backing over the past years. Surely, social media, digital marketing, and web 3.0 have been hot targets for global and regional investors which allows room for futuristic ventures like the region’s first-ever Metaverse amusement parks pioneered by XR Tech startup Hyperspace, or the UAE’s first mining, game-to-earn, and NFT-powered platform Zone introducing GameFi (Gaming Finance) to the region. When it comes to social connection, MENA has been finding much success in video content, especially ones that connect individuals to their favorite stars with startups like Starzly and Minly, which recently acquired its counterpart Oulo, raising major rounds in recent years.
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This organized, topic-based format makes it easy for users to meet like-minded individuals, see posts about things that interest them, share tips, gain knowledge, and feel a better sense of belonging. Most of all, ASKWHO aims to help people turn online friends into real ones. The social platform remains a valuable resource for expats who have just moved to the region, or for those who have been here for years and are looking to make new friends. With the new trend for home and hybrid-working, making it more difficult for many adults to make friends within the workplace, the service provided by the application is arguably more vital than ever. Michael Askew, CEO of ASKWHO stated, “Communities are so important and they have been around since the beginning of time. So, we want to provide our users with a ‘home from home, a place they can belong to and depend on. We alleviate the pain points caused by current social media applications and promote doing more together in real life”.
Indeed, ASKWHO is the result of years of hard work, research, iterations, and countless hours of speaking to people through interviews, surveys, and focus groups. Proving the need for such an application within the region, ASKWHO’s key metrics are on par with Facebook, whilst they surpass those recorded by LinkedIn, Reddit, Discord, Twitter, and other leading social media platforms. The ground-breaking application is available for free download on the APP store, and soon Google Play, and has a premium subscription option for additional features. The UAE-based startup will be able to channel its newly acquired funds into accelerating its growth and strengthening its position as the go-to social app for the region. Matthew Gaziano, COO of ASKWHO concluded with high hopes for the team, “We’re excited to continue our growth and build on our current success. We hope to become the region’s market leader in the social media sector.”
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