Whenever Nikos Diakogiannis first ventured in to the realm of dating applications, he discovered that they certainly were all too comparable. That’s why he’s attempting to replace the game completely — one meme at any given time.
Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, Match — record of choices continues on. But Diakogiannis has generated a software that brings a breathing of outdoors to virtual relationship.
It’s called Picme.
“Picme is kind of such as a hybrid between Tinder and Snapchat,” Diakogiannis told The Pappas Post. “You swipe on users and in the event that you get yourself a match, you message them just with image communications.”
Exactly just How it all started
Years after finding a bachelor’s degree in computer technology through the University of Connecticut, Diakogiannis returned to the institution to begin with graduate studies into the medical industry.
Comparable to numerous students that are graduate the Bristol indigenous invested most of their amount of time in the books, limiting opportunities for in-person discussion.
“I utilized dating apps a great deal because i did son’t have time that is much satisfy individuals. But we recognized that a lot of dating apps had been comparable,” Diakogiannis stated. “You simply match with someone and text forward and backward them. and soon you meet”
The ingredient that is missing? Engagement.
“ I was thinking the card swiping game ended up being enjoyable, however the thing we hated about old-fashioned relationship apps ended up being the connection after matching with another user,” he said. “The whole concept of texting a complete complete complete complete stranger some random pickup line seemed embarrassing and inadequate if you ask me.”
Diakogiannis’ application Picme allows users to swipe, match and trade “memes,” which make reference to pictures which are frequently humorous in general and can include descriptive text. (picture thanks to Picme)
Bringing more interaction to dating apps
Diakogiannis’ very very very first attempt came through Spark, a video clip speed-dating software which permitted users to connect through FaceTime-style video clip chats. The software included search filters such as for example distance, age and gender.
But location became problem, as users with big distances between them faced the process of coordinating movie calls while being in numerous time areas. This prompted Diakogiannis to just simply just take another approach.
“It ended up being not so practical getting individuals in identical location that is geographic at the same time frame to create movie telephone telephone calls,” he said. “The pool of prospective users had been too little.”
Diakogiannis’ latest application, Picme, arrived as a result to that particular issue.
“The brand brand new application hits a stability between being interactive without forcing visitors to be online on top of that,” he said. With text and hit send.“After you match on Picme, you’ll just take snapshots, label them”
Picme takes inspiration from Snapchat insofar as the photo-based structure while its “card swiping” function follows the Tinder model. Diakogiannis stated these records had been in line with their objective to make an interactive application without entirely reinventing the wheel.
“Picme had been a hybrid of my concept for Spark,” he said. “You reach see individuals and connect to them on a far more level that is personal changing the dating model that’s already worked.”
The movie below programs the way the application works in real-time.
The long, grueling procedure
Diakogiannis had a pc science level, but this didn’t suggest he knew simple tips to build an software.
The UConn alumnus read a 1,000-page textbook on pcs. He sat discovered the particulars of development for iOS, Apple’s operating that is mobile which powers a number of the company’s devices, like the iPhone and ipod itouch. He discovered programming that is new, formal languages that are used to make usage of algorithms and supply directions for computer ukrainian dating sites systems.
These tasks among others amounted up to a commitment that is full-time of 11 hours a day, and sometimes more, to perform Picme.
Diakogiannis then encountered the app’s review procedure for Facebook. This intended creating his very own LLC and publishing company papers in order to become A facebook-verified company. Then a contract was signed by him guaranteeing not to ever misuse individual information.
Apple arrived next.
“Apple includes a big group of guidelines you must adhere by when publishing towards the software shop. I did son’t have a вЂSign in with Apple’ key the time that is first presented the software in addition they rejected me personally,” Diakogiannis stated. “I experienced to totally replace the login system to have it to work well with both Twitter and Apple.”
Picme received four rejections before qualifying for the App shop, where its now readily available for down load. The software comes with an internet site.
“It had been exceptionally hard, but i acquired it through with assistance from my family that is amazing and,” Diakogiannis stated. “I don’t understand what I would personally do without them.”
Nikos Diakogiannis edits rule while focusing on their application. He’s got a bachelor’s level in computer technology through the University of Connecticut.
Encouraged by household
“The minute I made a decision to follow entrepreneurship ended up being a rather time that is hard me,” Diakogiannis stated. “My pappou to my mother’s side, who aided raise me personally, had been bedridden with dementia. We felt hopeless and very hurt and unfortunate.”
But seeing his grandfather during their final times motivated the entrepreneur that is young whom stated he began convinced that “life had been too brief” never to just take a danger by developing an application.
“i needed to move for the fences and hit a home hopefully run,” Diakogiannis said. “i needed to create my grandfather happy with me personally, so he could look down at me personally and smile, saying вЂI’m proud I took my children to America, the united states of possibility.’”
Diakogiannis pictured along with his grandfather, Konstantinos Kousournas, in the Diagoras Airport on their island that is ancestral of, Greece. Kousournas passed away in might 2017 during the chronilogical age of 82. (picture due to Nikos Diakogiannis)
Diakogiannis, who was simply their late grandfather’s grandchild that is first stated the two shared a “special bond” that shaped him as a person.
“Pappou took me personally every-where with him in order to get me personally from the household and invest some quality time together. He had been the guy whom first took our house to America from Rhodes, Greece in 1969,” he stated. “He had been constantly proud to be A us and he adored this nation.”
Diakogiannis stated any particular one time he hopes to market their software and spend his parents off’ business.
“My parents have already been spending so much time for nearly three decades when you look at the dry cleansing and tailoring business,” he said. “They instilled that same perseverance ethic in me personally. I would like to manage to provide them with a rest in the end these years which help them retire.”
Diakogiannis (far left) pictured together with his household during their sibling Kostas’ graduation from Central Connecticut State University in might 2019. (picture thanks to Nikos Diakogiannis)
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