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Mustafa Zaffer is one of the eight team members behind Splore an app challenging Instagram’s feature of following people

Is this Pakistani entrepreneur's startup going to dethrone Instagram?

Mustafa Zaffer is one of the eight team members behind Splore an app challenging Instagram’s feature of following people
Updated 12 Aug, 2016

Time to unfollow her too, I thought.

You know what I'm talking about. Don't you just hate it when you follow someone on Instagram for their innovative, quirky posts, only to realize a few weeks later that they've sold their soul to the devil and stooped to just doing paid reviews? Let's be honest: content's looking pretty shoddy now on the mammoth photo-sharing app.

Splore is here to to challenge that very feature — to make sure that their users thrive on quality content rather than star power. This hot new app on the block lets people follow hashtags of interest rather than people, so you're sure to have a feed that's basically tailor-made for you, filled with material that excites you.

Talking to Images, Mustafa Zaffer, one of the eight team members behind Splore explains: "We felt this was THE idea because it was solving various genuine problems that exist in the follower/following social media system, like that of users being limited to viewing content only from the people they follow or of fake engagement, namely fake accounts liking/commenting on your photos."

From L-R: Yifan Zhou (CTO), Samy Abbas (Head of Product and Design), Chris Karimian (CEO), Mustafa Zaffer (Head of Business Development & Partnerships), Ben Swinford (COO), Keith Alva (App Designer)
From L-R: Yifan Zhou (CTO), Samy Abbas (Head of Product and Design), Chris Karimian (CEO), Mustafa Zaffer (Head of Business Development & Partnerships), Ben Swinford (COO), Keith Alva (App Designer)

"The feed on Splore is different because its structure is so different. You follow hashtags, like #art or #music and communities are formed as a result of that. Then people post photos into these communities and the best content of each community trends to everyone in that hashtag group."

"On Splore, there are no requirements to getting a lot of likes. By simply posting good content, you are guaranteed to get a lot of exposure," he adds.

When you first download the app, you'll notice it plays out and looks a lot like it's nemesis; Zaffer insists the similarities are intentional.

"We wanted to give users a familiar interface to navigate though. By keeping the same five-tab model, people know exactly what every tab’s function is. We differ because our photos are in parallax, our comment system is more robust, and through our algorithm, which works differently obviously," he explains.

Following hashtags instead of people means you have an infinite stream of photos
Following hashtags instead of people means you have an infinite stream of photos

Psst: parallax means your mother won't try to unsuccessfully zoom into the picture like she does on Instagram and "accidentally" like that 43 week old picture of that family friend you were stalking. The parallax effect creates a sensation of depth, creating a faux-3D effect and makes for an interesting browsing experience.

Splore's comment section is also unique; users upvote comments, which gives the incentive for users to indicate which comments are the most important to the original poster. Moreover, comments are layered, so users can track conversations occurring in the comment section.

That being said, no promises about mothers not accidentally upvoting pictures!

Their newly released version has taken into account all the feedback the team received in their soft launch phase
Their newly released version has taken into account all the feedback the team received in their soft launch phase

Now that Instagram is setting it's sights on trying to become Snapchat, could Splore swoop in and dethrone the photo-sharing app, especially because the pictures on it are better quality?

With nearly 4000 downloads in the last 4 months, they're currently looking to market the app more to the main public, with the 2.0 release.

Like a proactive start-up, the Splore team has been all ears to constructive criticism regarding the clarity of the app, which has become one of their focal points for their latest version.

At the ripe age of 22, the University of Southern California grad is holding his own in the start-up shark tank. Any advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, I ask.

"You've got to remember your goal is to get validation for your product, build it, get customers, then make revenue. When you are starting a company your most valuable asset is time. It is important to believe that you are the smartest person in the room and everyone is as smart as you."

Currently, Splore is only available on the Apple App Store but fret not Android users, a Google Play Store version is in the works and should see the light of day in a few months.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Comments

Alba Aug 09, 2016 10:08am
It may in South Asia but not the rest of the world.
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Naveed Aug 09, 2016 10:19am
Wish you best of luck!
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Vivek (Indore) Aug 09, 2016 10:24am
Not gonna work, you have to do something innovative. Copying Instagram or just creating another version of it is not gonna help.
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Humza Aug 09, 2016 10:51am
A) It's not a Pakistani entrepreneur startup - just because there is one Pakistani in it, doesn't make it our startup. B) No, apps like these make a 'splash' now and then and die. So no, it won't "dethrone Instagram".
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jamshed zafar Aug 09, 2016 11:03am
No! please come up with some new ideas
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Einstein Babar Aug 09, 2016 11:07am
Keep it up boys, I am 100% sure within next 5 years, Pakistan can dominate many big countries in the field of IT.
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Sarah Aug 09, 2016 11:23am
This app is so slow. UX is below average at best the four star rating is completely bogus.
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Khan Aug 09, 2016 11:59am
@Vivek (Indore) Thats what they said about Google Maps while Mapquest was still king. Market share always shifts, and new entrants can end up being the most innovative ones.
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billy Aug 09, 2016 12:13pm
@Vivek (Indore) HAHAHAHA, try telling that to facebook
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rahul indian Aug 09, 2016 12:40pm
this idea will fail...instagram is a billion dollar enterprise...... it can within weeks adapt itself to new changes brought by other similar apps......that threatens its userbase.....just like Facebook and Google do
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Skeptic Aug 09, 2016 01:15pm
It takes a lot more than just copying some existing concept and design. In Pakistan, someone will even come up with a 'Mango' or 'Melon' brand to compete with Apple, but it will be nothing more than a cheap imitation made in China. Lack of tech park, brain-storming centers, and support for startups, research facilities and training in engineering, design, technology is what's holding Pakistan back, even compared to India, Much less harbor ambitions for taking on any brand in Silicon Valley.
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Indian Friend Aug 09, 2016 01:16pm
keep dreaming my friend
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Thoroughthinker Aug 09, 2016 01:48pm
Even China started by copying !
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Thoroughthinker Aug 09, 2016 01:50pm
@Humza : There are two! Abbas and Zaffer.
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Shoaib Aug 09, 2016 02:49pm
No I don't think so. Come up with something new
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saqlain Aug 09, 2016 03:08pm
may be in lahore not even karachi
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Iram Aug 09, 2016 07:12pm
Wow!
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kamran Aug 09, 2016 07:46pm
In 2008, I was the youngest embedded system engineer from Pakistan to design and develop Vehicle Control Unit for Hybrid Series Electric car and never find it very extra-ordinary or out of the world.
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Mehkan Aug 09, 2016 08:36pm
A friend of mine from Stanford started a similar app that followed hashtags but was unable to scale it. Social media is quite hard to get folks on until you are offering something absolutely catchy and needed. Something that snapchat did or Instagram did when they came out, or the new sensation bigo. Anywho.. Good stuff it seems a lot like flipboard/twitter/Pinterest all in one.. Keep it rolling maybe you guys will scale it..best of luck!
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Ali Aug 09, 2016 10:37pm
Wow, the way the image tilts when you move your hand is amazing
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Alexia Aug 09, 2016 11:15pm
Why do people say it's the same? Splore isn't an Instagram replica it's a app without a follower following system... That's totally different from Instagram. It can't dethrone Instagram because they're not in the same market! They have a long way to go but they can carve out their own market
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Desertmanaz Aug 09, 2016 11:55pm
App not available @itune, Good luck to the creators of the app.
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Mustafa Zaffer Aug 10, 2016 04:40am
@Vivek (Indore) Can you name an app which allows users to have a feed based on following #hashtags rather then users? #ToHellWithPessimism
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Mustafa Zaffer Aug 10, 2016 04:42am
@Humza Splore is a Pakistani Startup. I am a proud co-founder of Splore. By nationality, I am a Pakistani, born and raised in Karachi. I would appreciate if you were optimistic.
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Mustafa Zaffer Aug 10, 2016 04:43am
Thank you @Naveed. Feel free to give me some feedback on the app. Looking forward to seeing beautiful photos from you!
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Mustafa Zaffer Aug 10, 2016 04:43am
@Einstein Babar InshAllah only with your prayers and well wishes!
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Mustafa Zaffer Aug 10, 2016 04:45am
@Sarah thank you for the critique. Would love listening to your insights. Please reach out :)
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Mustafa Zaffer Aug 10, 2016 04:46am
@jamshed zafar Is following #hashtags instead of users an old idea?
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Mustafa Zaffer Aug 10, 2016 04:47am
@Indian Friend The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.
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Faisal Aug 10, 2016 07:22am
If the app wants any South Asian attention, it's gotta be quick to jump on Android.
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lmk Aug 10, 2016 09:56am
Its a team effort, title misleads. Having said the same, congrats to all, especially our Pakistani men!!
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STARZAN90210 Aug 13, 2016 04:45pm
@Mustafa Zaffer . Bro, Go for all the marbles ! Bro, inshaAllah, You and the group will be very successful in your endeavors!
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