News

Intro Platform Connects Users To Celebrity Experts

Intro is a new platform that allows users to book one-on-one video call consults with top-tier industry experts.

Published

4 years ago

August 8, 2022

intro platform connects consumers to celebrity experts

Founded by Los Angeles-based entrepreneur Raad Mobren, Intro is the latest platform that allows people to connect with celebrity experts across various fields. Mobren takes his inspiration for the platform from a chance meeting with Paul Orfalea, founder of the copy-chain Kinko’s. When Mobren was 18, he tapped Orfalea on the shoulder and asked if he could quiz the entrepreneur on his business success. Orfalea invited him to a 15-minute sit-down chat, which forever shaped Mobren’s future.

The idea of Intro might sound a little like Masterclass, where fans can receive masterclass tuition from their favorite artists or sports stars, or even Cameo, the platform that lets you order personalized video messages from famous personalities and Hollywood stars. Intro, however, has a different aim: to provide honest, actionable consultations from leading experts such as CEOs, sportspeople, businesspeople, and even interior designers.

“Intro breaks down walls and allows people from all across the world to easily have access to people who once seemed inaccessible. Our dream is that someone’s life will change because they got access to the person they admire, learned valuable information, and were inspired to make the world a better place,” says Raad Mobren, Cofounder & CEO

The platform has some heavyweight celeb backing in the form of Alexis Ohanian (a cofounder of Reddit), Andreessen Horowitz, CAA founder Michael Ovitz, and a growing network of highly accomplished stars. Joining the platform could see experts earning up to $500,000 annually, with a not inconsiderable 30% commission going to Intro.

Also Read: Yela Secures Over $2M To Connect Fans & Celebrities Via Video Messages

So how does the service work? Users either book a series of consulting calls, or simple one-off sessions of 15 minutes to an hour, with prices from $100 to $500. The service encompasses all genres, from entrepreneurial advice and help with business pitches to house remodeling and event planning.

intro platform expert booking tool

Intro’s experts don’t communicate further outside of the platform, and there’s no chat function or image sharing, so users need to take screenshots or make detailed notes. Still, Intro certainly sounds promising, especially if the makers can entice a decent-sized pool of talent to join the platform.

News

Syria Just Got Its First Super App Featuring Built-In Digital Payments

Built by UAE-based Syrian founders with the Ministry of Tourism’s backing, My Syria lands as visitor numbers more than double.

Published

5 days ago

August 1, 2026

Nour Nasir

syria just got its first super app featuring built-in digital payments

For most of the past decade, paying for anything in Syria with an international card was effectively impossible. Sanctions, a collapsed banking sector, and years of isolation left the country running on cash. That is what makes the launch of My Syria — the country’s first super app — more than a routine product announcement.

Developed by 121 Living, a company founded by four UAE-based Syrian entrepreneurs — Rami Kaiem, Feras Kaiem, Waseem Qudmani, and Kinan Madi — the app launched in Damascus on July 30 under the patronage of Minister of Tourism Mazen Al-Salhani. It bundles hotels, restaurants, transport, attractions, food delivery, and other lifestyle services into a single platform, currently offering eight services with plans to expand to more than 40 verified tourism and hospitality providers across the country.

Although the app already sounds enticing, the headline feature is its built-in payments. My Syria is the first platform in Syria to support cross-border digital payments through Apple Pay, Google Pay, Visa, Mastercard, and American Express — familiar tools for international visitors, and a route into the digital economy for local businesses that have long operated outside it.

my syria super app launch event

The launch rides on a sharp rebound for the troubled country. Syria’s tourism sector recorded 3.52 million visitor arrivals in the first half of 2026, a 111 percent increase over the 1.67 million during the same period in 2025 — a mix of returning expatriates, regional visitors, and international tourists.

Also Read: This UAE Platform Wants To Replace Fashion Photo Shoots With AI

The Ministry of Tourism, which supported and supervised the app’s development, frames the launch as proof of concept for a wider strategy. “Digital transformation is one of the Ministry’s strategic priorities because it enables us to build a more competitive, connected and investment-ready tourism sector,” Al-Salhani said, inviting technology companies “globally, regionally and locally” to explore opportunities across the wider economy.

For 121 Living, this is phase one, with additional services and expanded geographic coverage planned. Whether a super app can flourish in a market still rebuilding its infrastructure is an open question, but for the first time in years, a visitor to Damascus can pay for dinner with their phone.