Flan is a real-time networking platform I built to solve a problem I kept seeing in the MENA tech scene: people at conferences and events struggling to figure out who to talk to and why it matters.

Most networking tools are just profile databases with vanity metrics. Flan works differently — it shows you who's physically around you, gives you context about why they're relevant, and makes it easier to actually start a conversation.

What I Was Trying to Do

The big platforms treat networking like content consumption. Endless profiles, algorithmic feeds, engagement metrics that don't mean much.

I wanted to build something anchored in physical reality:

• Show me who's here right now
• Tell me why I should care
• Make it easy to connect without the usual awkwardness

Everything in the product flows from that.

How I Approached It

Understanding Real Behavior

I started by talking to people about how they actually network in the MENA tech ecosystem. Not how they say they network, but what really happens.

Turned out proximity and timing matter more than impressive LinkedIn headlines. And networking is context-dependent — what you want at a Saturday morning coffee meetup is different from what you want at a Wednesday pitch event.

That became the foundation.

Building Around Space and Intent

Most platforms are built on the feed-and-profile model. I structured Flan around location and what people are trying to accomplish.

The core flow:

• Discover who's nearby (Radar)
• Understand relevance (intent signals and context)
• Decide whether to connect (mutual interaction options)
• Remember it later (memory and follow-up prompts)

What I Built

• Radar — The main discovery interface. Not a feed, not search. A spatial view of people around you with enough context to make a decision about who to approach. Shows you founders, investors, and builders in real-time so you stop missing the person you should've met.
• Ask Marduk — An AI copilot I designed that gives you intelligent recommendations on who to meet based on your goals, location, and the people around you. It's conversational and situational, not just keyword matching.
• Connection Selfies + Memory Cues — Connections are easy to make and easy to forget. I built a system where you can capture a selfie when you meet someone, add notes about where you met and what mattered, and set follow-up reminders. Simple stuff, but it solves the "wait, who was that person?" problem.
• Swipe & Match — Mutual interest discovery without the awkwardness. If you both want to meet, you connect. If not, nobody knows.
• Scan to Connect — QR-based instant connection. No more fumbling for phone numbers or misspelling names.
• Pods — Location-based networking hubs. Your favorite cafe or coworking space becomes a networking HQ. Check in to see who else is building there right now.
• Events & Journey Tracking — See who's attending before you arrive, filter by relevance, and track every conversation during the event. Your networking doesn't end when the conference does.
• Communities & Channels — Keep momentum going between events. One conference becomes an ongoing relationship. Attendees become your crew.
• Beams — Targeted content sharing. Send updates to specific communities, events, or connections — not into the algorithmic void.
• Meeting Requests & Scheduling — "Let's grab coffee" actually happens. Built-in scheduling so the back-and-forth doesn't kill the momentum.
• Smart Alerts — Get notified when someone you should meet is nearby, or when something relevant happens in your communities.
• Plus: public profiles, private interaction history, who viewed your profile, availability management, and premium features for advanced insights and priority discovery.

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Testing and Refining

I iterated constantly based on real usage in the MENA tech community:

• Tuned Radar to surface relevance without overwhelming people
• Built timing rules so the product respects social context
• Designed interaction flows that don't feel forced or performative
• Tested event-aware features at actual conferences and meetups
• Refined AI recommendations based on connection quality, not just volume

Validated everything through usability testing, usage data, and direct feedback from founders, investors, and builders using the product.

What Happened

Flan is live and being used across the MENA tech ecosystem. People report better connections, less friction, more confidence approaching strangers, and actually following up after events.

Users say things like:

• "Removes the fear of approach at events"
• "Saves us effort and time navigating big events"
• "Great new concept in connecting and networking"

It works because it respects how networking actually happens instead of forcing people into some idealized version of it. The product has grown to include partnerships with major MENA tech hubs, startup programs, and event organizers.

What I Learned

Intent beats activity. Most products optimize for engagement. I optimized for relevance — timing, context, proximity, goals.

UX is systems work. Good UI is table stakes. What actually matters is the underlying structure — the mental models, the feedback loops, the signals the product sends about how to use it.

Know your market. We didn't build a generic networking app. We built something for a specific context — MENA tech and startup communities where trust, timing, and relevance are everything.

Features need purpose. Every feature in Flan answers a real question people have:

• "Who's here that I should know about?" → Radar
• "Should I reach out, and how?" → Swipe & Match, Smart Alerts
• "How do I remember this person later?" → Connection Selfies, Memory Cues
• "Where do I find my people?" → Pods, Communities
• "How do I stay connected between events?" → Channels, Beams

Deliverables

Experience frameworks, UX flows, Figma prototypes, cross-platform design system, research artifacts, iteration documentation tied to metrics, business plans, financial projections, marketing channels setup (external and in-app), complete feature development for 20+ interconnected product features.

Where It's Going

Flan keeps evolving because the core premise still holds: networking shouldn't be about luck and chance. It should be context-aware, actionable, and actually helpful.

Every feature I build reinforces that. That's the work.