A unique social matching platform using personality types
Learn more about Firas, the founder of Ur My Type, an app that uses personality types to make dating and finding friends online more meaningful.
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We spoke with Firas Abdallah, the founder of Ur My Type
What's are you currently working on?
I am still focused on Ur My Type, the startup I co-founded 3 years ago. Ur My Type is an app that uses personality types to make dating and finding friends more meaningful. I am happy to share that we are about to hit the 1+ Million app downloads milestone and that we have now reached cash-flow breakeven.
What's the "origin story" behind your current full-time job(s)?
I had been a personality types enthusiast for over a decade when we founded Ur My Type. I was extremely disappointed by the superficial nature of the mainstream dating apps I had been trying out, so I wanted to try using personality types to make the dating app experience more meaningful and substantive. We put together a simple prototype to test if there was a gap in the market for our solution and were overwhelmed by organic demand. So we decided to go for it.
Why are you interested in connecting with MENA’s global startup community?
This is less of an issue for us today, but when my co-founders and I first started, we felt completely isolated, like we lived on an island. We were all first-time founders and didn't know anyone in the startup community - No other founders and definitely no investors. The fact that we started up at the beginning of the pandemic didn't help either.
What's your favorite part of the Viaka Network thus far? Do you have any memorable experiences or helpful connections made that you can share with me?
That would be the member database for sure. I like how it lays everything out and in detail. It helps add a lot of context and simplify the process of making new connections. Yes, I do have a memorable experience. A really memorable one, actually. I used to not know anyone in Dubai, but thanks to Viaka, I was able to meet up in-person with several of the top VCs in the city, and all within a matter of DAYS of booking my trip!
How can members of the Viaka Network (and beyond) be most helpful to you and your work right now?
We are about to start fundraising for our seed round soon. So, any introductions to institutional investors that might be interested in Ur My Type would be much appreciated.
Bonus: favorite dish from the MENA world?
That would be Tabbouleh. I think I might be addicted to it.
Upcoming Events
Below is a list of upcoming events from the Viaka Network & beyond over the next couple of weeks
Startup Law 101 - February 15th (Virtual)
Viaka in Paris - February 15th (In-Person)
Broader Community:
IN BETWEEN by BETWEEN EAST - February 24th
If you’d like to share an event in this newsletter, we encourage you to join the Viaka Network and share the event with info@viaka.net!
Work Opportunities
Recent job openings from the Viaka Network & beyond. If you apply, let me know so I can also make a personal introduction.
If you’d like to share a job posting in this newsletter, we encourage you to join the Viaka Network and share the event with info@viaka.net!
Reads of the Week
Network members are encouraged to submit media suggestions to our Reading List
Silicon Valley Bank published its biannual State of the Markets Report. Highlights include:
1 in 4 Funds closed in 2023 focused on AI
Innovation related to artificial intelligence was a bright spot, driving a large portion of US VC fundraising and investment in 2023.
67% Of US VC-backed tech companies reduced net burn
Tech companies are adapting to the new financial normal, with the highest number in recent history reporting year-over-year reductions in net burn rates.
+60% Of companies went on to raise another equity round following a down round
Down rounds aren’t the end of the line which is a good sign when at least 13% of all US VC deals in 2023 were down rounds.
Download the whole thing here.
That’s it for this week. Thank you! 👋
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