• UAE-based social app ASKWHO has raised $1 million in funding, $515,000 of which was raised in a crowdfunding campaign which brought in 57 new investors.
• Founded in 2019 by Mike Askew and Matt Gaziano, ASKWHO allows its users to meet new people and discover the cities they live in through groups, topics, events, and a social news page.
• The round aims to improve ASKWHO's offering and enhance its plans to expand to the US market.

Press release:

UAE-based ASKWHO simplifies making friends and organising get-togethers through a community-focused social app. 

Dubai’s go-to social app, ASKWHO has announced a further $1 million in funding to improve its offering and expand to the US market. $515,000 of this round was raised in an oversubscribed crowdfunding campaign which brought in 57 new investors.

The dedicated group app allows its users to instantly meet new people and really discover the cities that they live in through groups, topics, events, and a social news page all within one dedicated app.

ASKWHO currently has significant traction, retention metrics that are aligned with the social leaders; and a business model that works through in-app purchases. 

“Let’s face it – Meeting new people and making friends can be challenging as an adult. We have made it quick and efficient to move from meeting people online to meeting up in real life and alleviated the pain points in current “social apps” by providing people with that go-to solution to discover their cities and the likeminded people within them,” said Mike Askew, Co-founder, and CEO at ASKWHO.

“2022 was very much about getting product market fit which we have successfully achieved through consistent progress in our metrics, SaaS revenue and working very closely with our customers. This investment is a massive boost for our plans to expand to a new market, which will improve our growth and business model even further,” he added.

“ASKWHO’s organic growth is a testament to how much value users are getting out of our app. The existing social media giants are so often in the headlines - rarely for a good reason – Our focus is on making friends in real life which is really important and this is something we deliver,” said Matt Gaziano Co-founder, and COO at ASKWHO.

“We’re seeing users turn away from entertainment platforms and focus on real human interaction more through our curated spaces that are filled with people that they care about. With millennials particularly enthusiastic about this new wave of social, it’s a very exciting time for ASKWHO which has a fantastic chance of being a major success story for the UAE,” he added.