Олег Онопрієнко Startup 10 March 2026, 09:00

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Volodymyr Yushchenko, a 23-year-old from Kyiv, is developing an app called SlixOne that helps people find company for a vacation in real time. The project is designed as an alternative to traditional dating services, focusing on going to bars or going for walks together.

We talked with Volodymyr about how the idea for the application came about, how much money was invested, and at what stage of development.

One more time

Volodymyr is a graduate of the State University of Trade and Economics with a degree in "management and administration." He implements the entire product creation cycle, from code architecture to design and promotion, independently.

“Within this project, I act as the owner, developer, designer, and SMM manager, meaning the entire product was actually created by one person,” Volodymyr told dev.ua.

The story of SlixOne began with the realization of a simple but very urgent need - how to quickly find company for an evening if your friends are busy and you don't feel like going to a bar alone?

As Volodymyr said, the idea of an "app for Pocharkivtsi" had been around for a long time and was the subject of numerous jokes and discussions. However, he decided to check whether people were really ready to use such a tool.

On November 25, 2025, the first post about the development of SlixOne appeared on the social network Threads.

At the start of development, I published a post on Threads, and the audience reaction was very active - it showed that the topic was really interesting to people. This was the main motivation to move forward and not stop at the idea level.

Over 400 people instantly joined the testing Telegram channel. This was the first and most important validation of the idea, which showed that Ukrainians are thirsty for new formats of social interaction, where the emphasis is not on romance, but on shared leisure.

How SlixOne works

The key difference between SlixOne and live content is in “real time” and live content. Instead of studying processed photos in profiles, SlixOne users get access to nearby video broadcasts. You can literally see how the party is going at the nearby bar or who is currently walking in the park and ready for company.

This creates the effect of presence and allows for instant decision-making. The revolutionary nature of SlixOne technology lies in the combination of a social map, live video, and game mechanics. The “group” format allows for mass outings, which significantly expands the possibilities for networking and large companies.

One of the most interesting aspects of the application is an interactive map of places to relax. Each bar, club or cafe on the map works as a living showcase. Thanks to the video, you can feel the atmosphere of the establishment even before you step foot in it. As the developer notes, the user sees the real number of people, hears music and can familiarize themselves with current promotions or bonuses.

SlixOne implements a system of reviews from real people who are directly in the establishment right now. This eliminates the risk of coming to an empty bar or encountering “tricked” ratings. Users also have access to 24-hour posts — short announcements of intentions (“I’m going for a walk,” “I’m looking for a company to play board games”) that disappear by themselves, maintaining the relevance of the event feed.

SlixOne is not a classic dating app. My goal was to solve several real problems for users at once, not to create another “swiping app.” Revolutionary in its combination of social interaction, real-time, security, and live content, not dry profiles.

The application works on the principle of conscious location selection - the system does not automatically "pull" coordinates from the GPS device without the user's knowledge. The user independently indicates his point on the map, which gives him full control over who sees his presence and when.

This approach allows you to plan meetings in advance - you can specify the location of your future vacation so that the company can start gathering before you arrive. Anonymity is maintained until the user decides to open up to potential like-minded people.

Initially, Volodymyr chose the strategy of launching SlixOne through Telegram Mini Apps. This allowed him to launch an MVP with minimal costs, while ensuring maximum convenience for testers. As Volodymyr said, the application gathered over 5,000 users in the first month. The main driver of growth was “word of mouth.”

"I chose Telegram Mini Apps for testing because it is fast, convenient, and allows you to launch an MVP with minimal costs. Even after the release in the App Store and Google Play, access via Telegram will remain, because I believe that universal access is a key advantage of such services," said Volodymyr.

About money and plans

Volodymyr is building a monetization model where partnerships with businesses will be the main source of income. Bars, clubs, and entertainment centers are interested in attracting a warm audience that is already looking for a place to spend the evening.

In addition to direct partnerships, the application will feature an internal currency SLIX and a donation system. This is not just a way to earn money, but a game mechanic that stimulates content makers and active community members. According to the developer, this model allows you to avoid aggressive and intrusive advertising, which usually spoils the user experience in similar services.

Approximately $2,000 was spent on development. There are already two investors who have shown interest in the project — I am currently waiting for the release in stores. SlixOne will remain free for users.

SlixOne is currently in the process of actively entering global platforms. The process has been difficult, especially from Apple's side. The App Store's requirements for applications with such complex functionality (video, geolocation, social interaction) are extremely strict. The application is already available for download on Google Play .

After the release in the Apple Store, Volodymyr plans to launch a large-scale advertising campaign, the materials for which are already ready. After that, the stage of forming a professional team will begin: SMM specialists, moderators, and technical support to ensure stable operation of the service with a large influx of users.

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