If you are socially awkward and just about to enter a new college or university, that deep dread of social interactions must be setting in right about now. If you’re already prepared to survive the first few events and social gatherings among your peers by staring at your phone screen, here’s an app that you might be able to install in the near future: Yibe, a networking application that could allows students to find like-minded groups and individuals from around their campus.
The brainchild of Suraj Suryavanshi (19) and Shweta Morale (21) from MIT WPU University and Bharati Vidyapeeth University in Pune respectively, Yibe Network was the winning idea from the country at Red Bull Basement 2020, a global platform where student innovators can bring their tech ideas into life. The duo will now represent India at the Global Workshop of Red Bull Basement 2020.
“Yibe is a curated network designed for college individuals which aims to improve their social life both online and offline,” they explain. “Users with similar interests can join events, internships, projects and activities that they have a unique interest in. Along with that, we also offer them a curated social network, where they can connect with their friends and acquaintances. All of this is seamlessly merged into one application with our fine-tuned UI.”
The duo started the process by developing the basic algorithm. After designing the application, they tested each feature individually. Right now, they are focused on the process of integrating all the features into one platform. Around 3 months were dedicated to research and approximately 2 more were spent on making the user interface. Through every step of the way, they took suggestions and surveys from students ensure that it perfectly suits the audience it is designed for.
Yibe users can also use it to apply for internships or small jobs to grow in their areas of interest. And if they are interested, students can even group together to host a project or participate in someone else’s project to turn their ideas into reality. “Our vision is to remove college as a barrier for students and get socialising back to the street. The thought of Yibe has always been on our minds but during the lockdown period we took up the challenge to make productive use of the time and get started on our idea.”
About finding their way to the opportunity, the students say, “Red Bull Basement was something we took part in spontaneously because we knew this would turn into a great opportunity. The response we got during the voting phase plus after being declared as India winners was so overwhelming and something we weren’t expecting.” The global workshop will be held from December 10 to 13.
