Innovation

Bubbl provides a solution to the uncertainty and anxiety many people have faced due to the pandemic and their outdoor surroundings. The app has helped keep communities safe as it demonstrates which areas are deemed safe. It also helps in the overall well-being and health of its users. Bubbl helps solve the UN SDGs of Goal #3: Good Health and Well-being and Goal #11 Sustainable Cities & Communities

Know before You GO

Inspiration

The owner of bubbl. found great inspiration for his company at the beginning of the pandemic, as he thought it was important to keep people informed on which businesses were taking the proper precautions and implementing cautionary measures to ensure the safety of their customers. This app served as a mission for Nihar, to promote a sense of security to those who may be more vulnerable to the coronavirus. He mentioned that he envisioned the idea of this app would be able to safeguard people not only from this current virus but could evolve into showing many different types of diseases, to keep people informed on all types of dangers which could potentially be harmful to their health. This is what motivated Nihar to want to move forward in creating this app. He felt it was up to him to take the initiative to build this platform, which he hopes would become a crucial part of people lives, as they are encouraged to not only be aware of the places they are going to but to also contribute to the community by providing proper, reliable feedback from users to report if a business is handling their safety measures well. As much of this app was showing the capabilities that Nihar and the team possessed in making an app of this multitude, it truly has a mission behind it to ensure the health and safety of its users.

Overall impact

This app has had a tremendous impact on the people of New Jersey. It has provided a way for people to leave their homes during this pandemic knowing what they are going to find. It takes away that feeling of uncertainty when you are going somewhere and not knowing if you will be safe. In the short term, the app has provided help to individuals or families when going out, but the goal in the long term is to partner with companies such as Instacart and Doordash so that the companies can ensure the safety of their employees when they are going to different stores and restaurants. In the interview, it was stated that there were over 1000 different companies on the app and this list is expanding. The company had just expanded to all area codes in the United States but hasn’t had the opportunity to market its expansion yet. Once they create their market expansion, not only will it impact the lives of those in New Jersey, but all the lives of people around the United States. It will take away the fear that some people have of going out by taking away uncertainty. Most importantly is that the impact of the app is being felt now. In a time of so much uncertainty, it is providing a higher level of certainty among people, something they haven’t experienced in more than six months. In the end, this app has already made a tremendous impact and it's only beginning. As the app’s reach expands, it will only have a greater impact on the people that use it.

Business benefit

This app has benefited the business in numerous ways. According to Nihar, the business is currently undergoing its seed round of fundraising. They are communicating with potential investors to raise funding for future plans regarding the app. Nonetheless, they are more focused on user growth than revenue. The company’s employees, Natalia Sokolnicki and Tejan Patel love working with each other. Natalia and Tejan agree that the work environment is comfortable and professional. Although the company does not have many employees, Nihar is especially careful in making the final decision on who is hired. He gives great value to customer feedback when it comes to managing the business and staff. “What they like and what they do not like is what the decisions being made are based off of,” says Nihar. Nihar has mentioned that the company’s weekly retention rate is above average in comparison to its competitors. Furthermore, the app has provided countless new opportunities for the company. Nihar, Natalia, and Tejan are working on adding several new features for the app’s users. Future success for this company would look like a larger user base. Essentially, the company hopes to create a community of people who are looking out for each other amidst a pandemic.

Social and environmental benefit

The innovation of bubbl helps society to improve overall well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. Social distancing is one of the biggest challenges since the beginning of the pandemic. It is important to have social apps like bubbl on the market to provide consumers a platform to measure public health safety. From the interview, we learned that “almost 70% of stores or places in NJ scored about 4 of 5 stars on the app.” These trends demonstrate that at this point in the pandemic many locations are enforcing the social mandates proposed by the government. Although the app users are mainly in New Jersey, it provides the local community a reflection about the public environment and can easily be transmitted worldwide in time. This app is easily available to be expanded across the nation and adaptable in other countries. The well-being of society is the main contributor to the success of this app. The data on bubbl provides a great measurement of safety protocols and public health measures as its users can visually see the data for the specific location they are researching.

Although bubbl is a start-up company, it also creates a working opportunity for people. During the interview, we learned that bubbl is considering expanding the business. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the unemployment rate within the U.S has increased. Therefore, the company could provide job opportunities soon. The innovation also plans to add more features that can generate more revenue and assistance to provide greater help to consumers. From a long-term perspective, the company could expand its app further than just COVID-19. Bubbl has facilitated its users’ outings and has created a common ground where people help one another.

Interview

Nihar Rival, Founder of bubbl.