About

Heyu is a pioneering community-building company that helps users meet new people and build quality connections based on their unique preferences. Our goal is to help the one billion people facing loneliness worldwide by revolutionising how we connect with each other. We’ve developed a compelling prototype and brand identity and submitted applications to industry-leading accelerators and VC firms. We’re seeking a driven Technical Co-Founder to bring the vision to life.

The role

As the Technical Co-Founder of Heyu, you will be responsible for building something people love. To begin with, you will transform our prototype into a functional MVP using either Native React or Flutter. After 6-12 months of user validation, we will have the opportunity to develop a fully native application for iOS/Android. So, a full-stack developer is preferred, but we’re open to specialists in back—or front-end development.

This role offers a unique opportunity to shape Heyu’s future from the start and work closely with two passionate Co-Founders to develop something genuinely revolutionary. We’re changing how people connect and offer you the chance to have a tangible impact on millions of people’s lives.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of Heyu’s MVP using either Native React or Flutter for the pilot launch in London (6-12 months).
• Own the application development and roadmap whilst collaborating with the Co-Founders to define technical requirements, user testing, and product vision.
• Oversee the testing and deployment of the MVP within the first 12 months and integrate user feedback to improve the offering.
• Plan and transition from the MVP to a fully native application (post-investment), where we will expand to cities across the UK.
• Participate in strategic decision-making to set the course for the business, including building and leading a team of passionate developers.

Required skills

• Experience with low/no-code platforms: Proficiency in using FlutterFlow or similar platforms to build scalable MVPs fast.
• Mobile app development: Strong understanding of mobile app architecture and UI/UX design principles. Including associated software like Firebase, AWS, Stripe, etc.
• Collaborative leadership: Excellent communication skills and the ability to work closely with non-technical team members to align product goals. In time, this will translate to leading and training a development team.
• Startup mentality: A proactive, hands-on approach that can adapt and iterate quickly in a startup environment. You will be trusted to own the product development.
• Problem-solving: Ability to troubleshoot, debug, and optimise the app to ensure a smooth user experience.

Preferred skills

• Previous startup experience: Experience as a technical founder or in a startup environment, particularly in building and growing community or social apps.
• UI/UX design: Knowledge of design tools and principles to help shape the app’s user interface. Working alongside our lead product designer.
• Product management: Ability to contribute to product strategy, user journey mapping, and feature prioritisation.
• Security & data privacy: Understanding of app security and data protection best practices. Preferably in managing the data for high-volume, user-based platforms.

What we offer

• Making an impact: We’re a social impact venture driven by people. Our key metric is improving the well-being of our users so you can confidently say you’re making a difference.
• Equity ownership: A significant equity stake in Heyu, giving you a vested interest in the company’s success. We’re just starting out, so there is a massive opportunity for upside.
• Founding team role: Be part of the founding team, helping to shape the company’s culture, strategy, and long-term vision.
• Growth potential: The chance to lead the transition from a low/no-code MVP to a fully native app. We don’t expect you to be a perfect match, but we expect you to be committed to learning and growing together.
• Flexibility: The opportunity to work 100% remotely. We have frequent check-ins as a founding team, but we don’t mind if you’re on a beach in Bali or sitting with us in London.

Why join Heyu?

This is a unique opportunity to join a promising startup at its inception and be integral in tackling the global challenge of loneliness. If you’re passionate about community building, have the technical skills to bring our vision to life, and are excited by the prospect of equity ownership in a high-growth startup, we’d love to hear from you.

Miles and Nick, the team behind Heyu, have been friends for nearly a decade and started building the business 2 months ago. We have full-time careers and work 10-20 hours weekly on Heyu (evenings & weekends). We will switch to working full-time at Heyu upon receiving the investment. Miles covers vision, strategy, and operations. Nick handles product design and user experience. We’re seeking three founding member positions; product development, branding and marketing, and data science.

To be clear, this is a Co-Founder role. Your compensation would be equity-based, with cash compensation once we secure funding. We will only work with people who are passionate about the problem and are committed to solving it for the next 5-10 years.

How to apply

Please send your CV, portfolio (if applicable), and a brief note about why you’re interested in joining Heyu to Miles. Let’s build something meaningful together.

Location: Remote (HQ in London, UK)