“I remember calling our first vendor, a car wash, and hearing him tell me he’d never signed up for another platform because they take 30% of his earnings. I thought, this has to change.” — Abdullah, Co-founder of Helpy
It was a small moment, but it lit a fire. Abdullah had always wanted to help people, but seeing the struggles of service providers in Qatar, both expats and citizens, made the problem real. Wages often weren’t enough, talented people were overlooked, and existing platforms were taking too much. That frustration sparked Helpy: a platform built to put fairness, opportunity, and community first.
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“In Qatar, you see people working tirelessly at a barbershop or running small businesses, and yet their earnings barely stretch. I wanted to create a space where anyone could benefit, financially, professionally, and personally. Just a few clicks, and you can start earning. No commission, no barriers. That’s the core of Helpy.”
The idea didn’t emerge from a formal meeting or a big strategy session. It started at Imagine Us, a small community hub where Abdullah and friends would talk about business, impact, and helping people.
“I’ve always wanted to help people,” Abdullah says. “That’s why it’s called Help Me Help You. It’s not about profit. Many platforms take a huge cut, sometimes 30%, from small businesses. That’s unfair. I wanted to change that, and we made it happen.”
Two years ago, they launched an earlier version of the app. But Abdullah is a believer in learning fast and improving constantly.
“With tech, there’s always room to improve. We listened to users, learned what worked and what didn’t, and built a new app from the ground up. Customer feedback drove every tweak. I knew if I waited too long, the idea would fade, or someone else would do it. So I just got started.”
Early Days: Learning by Doing
Abdullah didn’t come from a tech background; he studied marketing and bank intelligence. But he didn’t let that stop him.
“I got hands-on with developers, learned as I went, asked questions, and immersed myself in the process. Challenges aren’t obstacles; they’re lessons. Every mistake is an opportunity to grow a skill or understand the market better. Honestly, struggles make it exciting. Without them, business isn’t entertaining.”
From navigating tech for the first time to shaping the business model, Abdullah stayed true to one principle: no commission for service providers.
“Our vendors keep 100% of what they earn. That’s unusual, yes. But we make money differently, through a reasonable monthly subscription for vendors. It’s transparent, fair, and consistent. Everyone knows where we stand.”
Real Impact, Real Stories
Nothing has moved Abdullah more than seeing Helpy in action.
“Our first business vendor, the portable car wash, told me he never signed up for other platforms because of the high commission. But with Helpy, he could keep his earnings and reach more customers. That moment, when I saw the relief and excitement, reminded me why I started this. It’s about the community. It’s about doing good.”
Helpy isn’t just a platform, it’s a community of fairness and opportunity, connecting people face-to-face, not just through an app.
“When you interact with people directly, it changes everything. They don’t feel cheated, and service providers know they’re fully benefiting. That trust is priceless.”
Growth, Funding, and Vision
So, how do you grow a platform like Helpy? For Abdullah, it’s not just about money—it’s about the right partners.
“When we look for investors, we don’t just want funds. We want long-term partners who can help Helpy grow. Our focus has always been on impact and community. Money alone isn’t enough. We’ve funded the app ourselves with my partners, Jassim Al Thani. Now, we’re looking for support that adds value.”
And expansion is on the horizon. Helpy is designed to be international, accessible wherever people need plumbing, car washes, salons, or barbers at home. Abdullah envisions it on billboards around the world, in everyone’s pocket, a global community platform that still keeps its heart local.
Emotional Highs and the Rollercoaster
Building Helpy hasn’t been easy, but for Abdullah, the highs outweigh the lows.
“The day the app was published, it was emotional. Seeing something you built from zero, watching it grow, it’s like raising a child. You feel pride, excitement, and responsibility. It’s an emotional rollercoaster, but every setback teaches you something. Without it, you wouldn’t know how to respond to the next challenge.”
Every challenge, every mistake, every learning curve has shaped Helpy into what it is today: a platform that empowers both service providers and customers, a space built on fairness, community, and trust.
Advice for Founders
If Abdullah could speak to every aspiring founder, his advice is simple:
“Just go for it. Put in the time, put in the effort. Don’t just have an idea and hand it over to someone else. If you care about your business, if you want it to grow the way you imagine, you have to be there, present, and invested. Make your team feel like partners, not just workers. That mindset is what sets a business apart.”
He’s also clear about mindset: positivity over negativity.
“When I first spoke about Helpy, many people said it wouldn’t work. I ignored the doubts. Business is a risk; without risk, there’s no reward. Take in positivity, act, and keep moving forward. That’s the reason I built Helpy.”
Helpy’s Mission
At its core, Helpy is more than an app. It’s a symbol of community and partnership, even in the logo, two hands shaking.
“It’s about connecting people, giving them fairness, and making sure they feel supported. That’s the heart of Helpy. Our team is small, just five right now, but the vision is global. This is only the beginning.”
Abdullah’s passion and drive shine through in every story, every interaction, every decision. He wants Helpy to grow, to reach people, and to inspire others to build with fairness, impact, and community in mind.
Fun Fact
And just to show there’s a human behind the founder:
“I can do a lot of accents. People think I sound British sometimes—well, I was born there. It’s just a quirk I love.”
Helpy is about opportunity, fairness, and connection. And with Abdullah at the helm, it’s not just an app, it’s a movement. A community. A chance to change the way people earn and interact. And it all started with one simple idea: Help Me Help You.
