Business & technology
One billboard, a much wider conversation
One billboard. One city. Then conversations well beyond that street. I was proud of what our dua team and Karrota had dared to put out into…
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Business & technology
Building a company brings ideas into contact with real people. Start with my 13 months building alongside a full-time job, then explore how I think about a founder’s focus and listening to what people actually need.
For building with AI, begin with one task and the right learning tools, or follow my Be The One challenge and learning to code by making something work.
Business & technology
A big company ambition still needs a next step
In November 2023, I said I wanted dua to become a unicorn within five years and reach the world’s top five dating apps. That was the…
Business & technology
Behind a safety promise is the work of responding
On 8 July 2023, I spoke about the people behind dua’s safety work: checking suspicious profiles and responding to reports, Monday to Sunday. A promise on…
Business & technology
A company across borders needs clear working agreements
In November 2023, I described dua as a team of 70: our management board in Switzerland, most colleagues in Kosovo, and a presence in other countries.…
Business & technology
Why we kept the name dua.com as the audience changed
We were widening dua’s audience. Did that mean changing its name too? In November 2023, my answer was no. Short, simple, beautiful: I still saw a…
Business & technology
Listen to what people actually come to you for
Love, friendship, business. We began with several reasons people might use dua. By July 2023, I was explaining why we had focused on dating: love was…
Business & technology
A founder’s focus: go deeper before adding more
Another idea is exciting. Staying with one long enough to become good at it asks more of you. That is the challenge I keep coming back…
Business & technology
What our Euro 2024 release says about building a product
Euro 2024 was starting, and our dua team had a release ready. Languages, discovery, visibility controls, design—and the testing and fixes behind them. I wanted to…
Business & technology
Spotted: designing for the people whose paths cross yours
During Euro 2024, I used football supporters in Germany to explain Spotted. One person wants to look everywhere. Another wants to find someone they crossed paths…
Business & technology
The early dua.com story: an idea, a community, a changing direction
An idea in 2011. Albanian friends in 2013. dua in 2019. By 2023, we were talking about an international audience. Looking back, the direction did not…