Elliott Bowen is the founder of Belova, an app that aims to make it easier for people to meet others with similar interests and get involved in activities together.
Following a successful launch on 25th September, Elliott now wants to grow Belova further across Cardiff and the Vale.
Belova was created with the idea of making it easier for people to meet outside of traditional social settings, using shared activities as a way to bring people together.
“Whether it’s something as simple as going for a walk, going for a coffee or playing some tennis, it’s giving people the ability to link up with the wider community which you don’t necessarily have access to.”
Rather than simply connecting people online, Belova focuses on helping users find others through things they already enjoy doing.
The idea for Belova came from Elliott’s own experience after spending five years travelling around the world.
When he returned home, he found that socialising felt very different from his experiences travelling and during his time at university. Meeting new people had often happened naturally in those environments, but reconnecting with his existing social network wasn’t as easy as he had expected, with people’s lives and routines having changed during his time away.
“Sometimes I’d find myself wanting to do something, and I actually couldn’t find anyone to do it with, which is crazy!”
It made Elliott question why meeting new people had to feel so difficult, and led him to believe there should be an easier way for people to connect.
“Some experiences are so much better shared. There are a lot of things I have done in my life where if I had done that by myself, it would be amazing, but it would be lovely to share that with someone as well.”
Since launching, Elliott says the focus has been on growing the app and encouraging more people to get involved.
“The response has been fantastic and everyone has been really encouraging… people have been saying it is a good idea and something that is much needed, which is reassuring to hear.”
Although Belova is starting in Cardiff, Elliott hopes the app will reach people across the wider area, including communities in the Vale.
The aim is to create opportunities for people to meet others through activities they already enjoy, whether they are looking to make new friends, find people with similar interests or simply become more involved in their local community.
“I have tried to make it as simple as possible… You create your profile, show your interests if you’d like to, then you can browse plans happening near you, you can filter by price and how many people you want as well.”
“If you fancy doing something and you cannot see it, create the plan! Be the first mover. I know no one likes to be the first mover, I feel the same, but just share it because you might surprise yourself.”
For anyone interested in finding out more or getting involved with Belova, the app is now available on the App Store and Web App.
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