Citibuddies.com

Citibuddies.com is an online social platform that connects people enabling them to re-explore and re-discover their favorite cities online and offline using a different perspective which is the local one.

   

We had an in-depth and insightful interview with Mr. ‘Aidan Mehmed‘; Founder and CMO of the Argentina (Buenos Aires)-based start-up “citibuddies Inc.”.

“citibuddies“ is a connection platform in cities that presents you the coolest things to do in the urban jungle, connects you to the right people and makes you a local in the global world . For locals and visitors. Virtually and in the real world.

Below is the full interview that we have conducted with Mr. ‘Mehmed’ regarding his online social platform company “citibuddies Inc.”;

1. What is it exactly that you do and what “citibuddies Inc.” is all about?

We are creating an online social platform which opens up the ‘doors’ of cities for us, an online social gateway for each city. With this online network we connect people enabling them to re-explore and re-discover their favorite cities online and offline using a different perspective – the local one. No matter where you are located you would know what is fun to do out there in the city you are in or in the one you would like to go to. Thus you not only save time and money, but also you don’t feel awkward or like a foreigner anymore wherever you go.

2. When has “citibuddies Inc.” been founded? And what stage is “citibuddies Inc.” currently at?

citibuddies Inc. officially incorporated in July 2012 in Delaware, USA. Currently we are developing our beta, refining our business and marketing strategy; not to forget we are looking for enthusiastic people to join our team. Very soon we will reveal some very interesting new content which was kept secret for months and we plan to launch the beta in November 2012.

3. What is “citibuddies Inc.”‘s business model and how does it work?

The business model includes online Ads based on your geo-location, premium access (space for promotional content for business partners) and margin-based revenue from our marketplace feature. Once we launch our Mobile Apps for smartphones and tablets, we also plan on penetrating the Mobile Ads market. We strive to deliver not only a unique experience via the online network as a service, but additionally help the user to save money and time while doing it and we help our business partners to reach audiences that they cannot reach via facebook or other social networks yet.

4. How did your team meet? And who in your team does what?

We met in Groningen, the Netherlands during my Graduate studies there and the Doctoral studies of Darja thanks to fortunate chain of events. I was at the stage when I was seeking the next big thing to work on and fight for and once I heard about the project I was totally up for it. Darja (CEO) is busy with operations, product development and our finances, whereas my focus is marketing, sales and business development. We both try to recruit people constantly and in general, we both do a bit of everything, as a small team in a start-up, you have to. Furthermore we constantly work with volunteers for which we are very grateful for.

5. What, exactly, makes you different from existing options, what will make your product and/or service stand out in the marketplace? In other words what’s unique about you and what’s new about what you make?

citibuddies provides relevant and timely information about activities/events in cities and connects you to people that might be relevant for whatever you want to do. Each activity, each event offered to you is in line with the user’s tastes and likes. You can easily use the platform to promote you initiatives and gain visibility among communities that are of your interest. Moreover, we are currently based and focused on Latin America, which offers great potential for growth in the social media and travel/leisure segments in the future.

[Read more...]