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.
