Looking back, it’s surreal to think how far we’ve come. In 2018, Hayle wasn’t a company yet. It was an idea shared between friends, a quiet rebellion against how lonely the digital world had become. I remember those early conversations with Gideon—we weren’t chasing followers or startup fame. We just wanted to build something that helped people find each other through what they loved, not through likes or swipe-rights.

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At the time, we were university students balancing classes, part-time jobs, and endless nights of brainstorming and coding. But when something matters to you, you find the time. We knew the world didn’t need another social media app. It needed a space where people could connect over real interests—whether that was hiking, photography, or debating movies until 3 a.m. That was the heart of Hayle.

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On April 6, 2018, we took a leap. We officially incorporated Hayle Inc. That day meant more than paperwork—it meant we were committed. This wasn’t just a project anymore. This was our future. I still remember how it felt—scary, exciting, and humbling all at once. We didn’t know what challenges lay ahead, but we knew why we were doing it.

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That first year taught me everything about resilience. We pitched the app in competitions, tested it with early users, and learned from every awkward failure and unexpected success. There were moments we questioned ourselves, but those moments built us. Our alpha launch brought people together—real conversations, real friendships—and reminded us why we started.

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Hayle began as a social app, but 2018 was the year it became something more. The foundation was set. The mission was clear. And while the road ahead was still unfolding, we knew we were building something that mattered.

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