Evry’U is a mobile app that manages a profile for every you. Based on theories of social circle science, the different profiles are meant to represent the various, complex social roles we all play. Evry’U aims to make it easier to express the different sides of your personality across public and private social circles.
For those who think that science is a snooze, you might be more attracted to the streak of playfulness running throughout the social discovery that Evry’U wants to bring to your mobile world. Sure you can, “find new friends and keep your close ones nearby,” but you can also, “flirt, date and meet in real life,” or, “play with mystery of identity through social discovery.” No, that’s not my devil’s advocate side just messin’ with you. If you don’t trust me, though, then listen to what founder Marc Bisnaire had to tell KillerStartups about the potential of Evry’U.
How long have you been involved with the internet?
I was a 1st adopter of TCP/IP when everyone else was looking at Novell – do you remember them? They were the gods of networking back then and the internet was just a transport protocol, but some of us saw something more… beyond the local server…
What time do you usually start work each day? Do you have an office or work at home?
9AM-2pm, then back on at 10pm-2am. [Our] offices are spread across the globe so my hours are somewhat strange…
What’s the first thing you do when you leave the office at the end of the day?
I never leave the office. I abandon it. There is always something more to do, one more thing…
When do your best ideas come to you?
When people [are] watching or [I’m] confronted with a problem. I see solutions…
We want to know about where you spend your day! What’s on your desk right now?
My day is spent either in airplanes going to meet people or online with the teams. Sure, golf, tennis and other outdoor activities figure in, but I’m pretty focused on people and what I do. My desk is confusion… nothing is orderly… but all [are] priorities. I attack problems like a lion [attacks] fresh meat.
A lot of people have big ideas. What gave you the confidence to actually put your life on hold and realize yours?
My everyday life is full of ideas. I don’t like taking things for granted and I definitely don’t like to hear the word “impossible.” I hear all the time, “I could have done that too…” Yeah, sure! “Then why didn’t you?” I would ask them… I’m different… I don’t talk, I do! Too many people talk of their bright and big idea. I figure out how to get it done. I take the first steps, I start with research then… who knows… depends on where that goes…
What advice do you have for other entrepreneurs struggling to get their business off the ground?
Be realistic about your “great” idea! The world is both your market and your competition’s – you are never alone. So figure out early on how you are going to compete, because compete you must…compete you will…
Who or what inspires YOU? Role models? Quotes? Snack food?
Happiness inspires me… seeing it in the people all around. And people are most happy when in love.
Who has been your biggest cheerleader throughout this process?
My kids. They’ve really supported me through thick and thin. They think that it’s pretty cool what their dad does. They’ve also been a big help in getting me to understand their generation.
How do you picture your company in 5 years?
Successful and adapting – I have a strategy that I will follow through on, but I will adapt to the changing realities, trying hard to focus outward, not backwards. Otherwise, I’m usually not a very big fan of gazing at the crystal ball and prefer to focus on, “one costumer at the time.” At this moment, we are a start-up and I know we’re going to make mistakes, but I bring experience and determination to this process and will try to draw the best out of the this young dynamic team.
What would you be doing if you had one year off and $500,000 to spend?
I’d finish my heart project… Oh, that’s another “start-up” story…which has been starting up for the last 8 years. Essentially, I’ve been doing some research with a team of doctors to create a really cool way to determine heart problems early on. This kind of research takes time. Lots of time.
I’ve had several friends who simply dropped dead at work or jogging, always way before their time. In three such cases, they had just passed an ECG test. I was a techie guy, so I was sure I could develop a device that could make a test far superior to what it [ECG] was and save lives. ECG’s are only 40% effective. I’m aiming for over 80%. We’re pretty much there. It’s really cool research and extremely complicated math. Rocket science is easy compared to heart signal science… I could finish the device and get it through the FDA.
Yes, I’m probably a serial entrepreneur…
Where can our readers get a hold of you? Facebook? Twitter? Google+? Personal blog?
Nowhere. I value my privacy… and I know the insidious privacy invasion such products propagate. However, I’m using my own product. I like meeting new people. Recently as I was traveling through an airport I saw a women I was interested in and somehow saw that there could be a connection – it was really weird to get this feeling. But I was too shy to approach her directly in that situation. Yeah, I regret it now. How I wished she was using my product, a tool to give me a chance to break the ice… that smile is going to haunt me. It’s like that song, “I saw a woman” and I know we’ll never meet.
Anything else we should know about what makes you and your company so special?
We have a very international slant. We’re spread all over Europe, Asia and North America. I love to travel, I love diversity, I love all kinds of foods from everywhere… so that’s the kind of company I want to foster to promote to spread… to join. These are both our customers and yours. It’s the foundation of our vision. We’re not Facebook, we’re not Match.com. We’re there to build connections…from hyper-local to “mondial.”
My mobile is my world wherever I am.
Evry’U is available for free on all Android devices and (as of July 9) iPhones. For more about Evry’U, visit their Facebook page, their blog, or follow them on Twitter.