
story by Claire Miller
Abdoulaye Djire (B.S. ’19) fondly remembers visiting relatives in Paris one summer, spending his days exploring the historic city and looking for the most unique places and experiences he could find.
“When I came back home, I realized how many other people have lived in the same city for years and still don't know the best places to go unless a friend points it out to them,” Djire said.
Thus, the idea for the FIND app was born.
Djire has designed FIND as a mobile social networking platform that encourages users to share the hidden gems in their hometowns and the cities they visit.
When the full version of the app is released, users will be able to upload photos, videos, reviews and recommendations for local restaurants, events and activities, and use FIND’s interactive map feature to find one-of-a-kind places and experiences to enjoy, according to the app’s website.
“Everyone will love FIND for its spin on location-based apps and how much utility it will have in our daily lives,” he said.
Earlier this year, Djire was accepted to the Main Street Entrepreneurs Seed Fund’s third cohort. This six-month program, led by Georgia State University’s Entrepreneurship and Innovation Institute, “supports underrepresented students, recent alumni and Georgia State community entrepreneurs with seed funding and mentorship to start and grow new ventures,” according to the program’s website.
“When I heard Georgia State had an accelerator program for entrepreneurs, I knew I needed to apply because they could help me grow as a business owner,” said Djire, who will complete his master’s degree in information systems at Georgia State this year. “I knew the program would be able to provide me with mentorship, networking opportunities and more to help my company grow.”
Djire hopes to learn from the other entrepreneurs in his cohort what worked well for their businesses, what didn’t work and what changes he can make in his own business to ensure that FIND is successful.
“I am very excited for this opportunity and the many doors the Main Street Entrepreneur Seed Fund can open,” he said. “No great feat is done alone, and I cannot wait for what is next in store for FIND.”
To learn more about the Main Street Entrepreneurs Seed Fund, visit https://eni.gsu.edu/msesf.