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Mobile App Development

App Development for Make Friends Nearby

Make Friends Nearby is a social networking app designed to help teens connect, chat, and build real friendships in a safe, engaging environment. Our team focused on developing a fast, secure platform with features such as profile swiping, instant messaging, voice and video calls, and interest-based communities. We improved backend performance for real-time interactions and optimized the design for intuitive navigation and responsiveness across all devices.

Client

ORBITECH PTE. LTD. is a Singapore-based technology company specializing in mobile applications that connect people across interests and lifestyles. They approached Five Talents to reimagine and rebuild their existing app, Swipr, into a fresh, safe, and engaging social platform for teens and young adults seeking genuine friendships rather than traditional dating experiences.

Approach

Our goal was to help Orbitech transform the user experience from a simple swiping app into a full-fledged social ecosystem built on shared interests and real conversations. The new app, Make Friends Nearby, was designed to encourage meaningful, authentic connections through a modern interface and a stronger sense of community.

We focused on:

  • Modern UX/UI design to appeal to a younger audience with smooth navigation and vibrant visuals.
  • Real-time communication tools like instant messaging, voice, and video calls.
  • Interest-based communities that help users connect beyond appearances.
  • Safety and moderation features to create a trusted, age-appropriate environment.

Process

  1. Research & Discovery — Conducted competitor analysis and focus sessions to understand teen social behavior and expectations.
  2. UX/UI Redesign — Created an energetic, mobile-first design emphasizing user comfort and visual clarity.
  3. Feature Development — Integrated profile swiping, real-time chat, media sharing, and community spaces built with Flutter and Firebase.
  4. Security Layer — Added age verification, report/block functionality, and content moderation tools.
  5. Testing & Deployment — Ensured cross-platform performance, optimized backend speed, and provided post-launch analytics tracking.

Result

The new Make Friends Nearby app achieved rapid adoption among its target audience, bringing a fresh, engaging way for teens to connect online safely. With improved retention rates, higher daily activity, and positive user feedback, the app successfully transitioned from a dating-style platform to a trusted friendship network powered by authentic interaction and creativity.