We had the good fortune of connecting with Amir Afuta and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Amir, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
Through my own experience I moved to Los Angeles without any family or friends.

Finally I was able to go to an NBA game, but no one to go with. This planted the seed in my mind.

Soon after, I started working for the Consulate General of Israel and had long work trips alone domestically & abroad – which encountered me with the same problem with who do I explore?

I tried dating apps but they are not designed for friendship activities and were not doing the trick. I did notice that a lot of profiles mentioned that they are looking for friends, companionship and so on.

Putting all of these together, the idea for Applatonic would not leave me and I knew it is something people needed – even if they did not know it existed yet.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Applatonic is about happiness, making it easy for each one of us to meet, connect and enhance the true human experience – The essence of the human experience is socializing and connecting, having a sense of community. Applatonic is all about that! We want to create an opportunity for you to belong wherever you are. Being an Applatonic means You are never alone, you always have a friend anytime, anyplace that you need one.

I am so excited for our first version and to hear & see the benefits it will bring to people in LA and than the all over the world!

Getting here was challenging, I am not a software engineer myself and finding one who will not only want to do it but also believe in the idea and will be committed to it’s success was long and enduring. Also I do not come from a family with means (quite the opposite actually) and had to fund or do myself everything from market research through trademark registration to color scheme and content. I had to learn a lot to be able to do these things, get out and talk to people, be willing to hear a lot of no’s and why this is a bad, crazy, stupid idea to get to those who believed in me and in Applatonic. Just keep pushing!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Beach is the obvious for me, Will Rogers on weekdays, Sunset restaurant and Westward beach in Malibu is at a gorgeous spot, great food and always a lot of interesting people. Definitely a hike or two during the week – Los Leones and Temescal Canyon are favs of mine. I love Abbot Kinney, for everything from food to people watching.
Elephante is a magical place for sunset drinks, also enjoy the rooftop at the hotel Erwin.
In a city that is filled with amazing sushi places, Wabi on Rose still stands out – a must!

For a night out I like the combination of the Golden Bull & Shore Bar who you can walk back and forth easily for different vibes.
The Baked Potato is a true jazz with various live artists who are really talented and fun.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
In my eyes there are a lot of people that contribute to anyone’s success, and I’m of course no different. First and foremost is my mom, who always believed in me and is on my side even when what I am doing doesn’t make sense to anyone but me.
Throughout the journey in LA, the two consuls I worked with closely at first Danny Gadot and Avner Saban and later on who gave me the opportunity to reimagine my role and be creative. My dear friends and mentors Ari Bussel and Zohereh Mizrahi both with endless giving energy and mentality.
There are so many books, I will mention two one fiction The Shadow of The Wind by Carols Ruiz Zafon and 12 Rules For Life by Jordan Peterson.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/applatonic/

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.