Today we’d like to introduce you to Faisal Abujabal and Mohammed Rajei.
Hi Faisal and Mohammed, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Faisal Abujabal – Founder
Ever since I was a kid, I have had a passion for computers. I used to build computers, play around with software, and often break the family’s computer. It all started in the Summer of 2009. I watched a documentary with my dad about someone who lost their job and started an online business that soon became a multi-million dollar business. My dad asked, “Why don’t you build something like this?”. A few weeks later, I bought my first domain and started learning about building websites. As a high school student in the Middle East, there were limited resources for building websites, so my only resource was the internet. I started downloading prebuilt websites, studying the code, and modifying iteratively. Over my few years of high school, I gained enough experience to the point where I started working as a freelancer for local companies and individuals while studying in high school.
After high school, I was fortunate to travel and pursue a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. I worked on a few side projects while pursuing my degree to try and find a project that could be big someday, but I had no luck. After graduation, I got a job offer in the beautiful city of Austin as a Software Engineer.
Mohammed Rajei – Founder
I spent most of my childhood/adolescence in different countries worldwide. My father is in the aviation industry, so we moved around quite a bit. All this traveling helped me become a more versatile and social person. In business, this is one of my strengths as it has helped me create relationships with people from all walks of life. I have always been a savvy business individual. I enjoyed making deals from a young age, whether it was in gaming or trading unique pencil cases in elementary school. My educational background consists of a bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering from Texas State University.
The GoBubble Story
In December 2018, we met through a mutual friend. We had a lot in common from our shared cultural background, hobbies, profession, and passion for building. As people say, we were both hustlers. At the time, Mohammed had sold his phone kiosk business and was looking for his next project. We both had an idea for a mobile car mechanic application. After brainstorming ideas, we decided to first start with a mobile car wash and detailing application. We both loved our cars but were annoyed about the process of getting them washed, so we decided to tackle it. On June 1st, 2019, we registered GoBubble! We worked on developing the application for about two years. We bootstrapped the whole business from logistics, application design, and development. The process took longer and was more challenging than expected, but that is the beauty of it! After working through seven app iterations, we launched the application in October 2021.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There is always a wide range of obstacles and challenges that face any business. One of the main challenges were the market’s effect on consumers. The stigma surrounding mobile detailing is that it is expensive and is not for all cars types when in reality, our business caters to anyone at a very reasonable price.
One more challenge we faced was COVID hitting the US a few months into starting the company. Customers were either not using their vehicles or were not comfortable with a stranger being in their cars. Because of that, we decided to postpone the launch of the app and continue working on improving the user experience and features. That was a silver lining because we quickly realized that users’ standards for applications are very high from early app versions. Existing gig apps are very mature, which caused a higher expectation for newer apps.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about GoBubble?
GoBubble is a start-up based in Austin, TX co-founded by Faisal Abujabal and Mohammed Rajei. Our Chief Marketing Officer is Mujtaba Sheik.
GoBubble is a mobile application available on iOS and Android that provides customers with the best mobile vehicle car wash or car detail. We now serve customers in the Austin Metropolitan Area, Lakeway, Bee Cave, and Spicewood any day of the week and wherever your vehicle is.
A big reason we started here in Austin is we fell in love with the local charm and with local charm comes local businesses, so making sure we have the knowledge of people who have been here for years partnered with the innovation that is the GoBubble application was a big driver for us.
GoBubble provides various packages for cars and motorcycles. From an outside wash, in and outwash, interior detail, mini detail, and full detail. We also offer multiple add-ons that will take your vehicle to the next level. We will soon support boats and yachts and plan to expand to other areas in Texas.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
One of the most valuable parts of a start-up is finding mentors with experience in running successful businesses that could help guide you through many obstacles that could arise. The easiest way to network with people is to attend events related to your field. Don’t underestimate having a conversation about your work and struggles with folks in and outside your business domain. We have met most of our connections that have helped elevate our business through mutual friends.
Pricing:
- Outside wash starting at $39.99
- In n Out Wash starting at $54.99
- Mini Detail starting at $122.99
- Full Detail starting at $340.99
- Interior Detail starting at $115.99
Contact Info:
- Email: support@gobubble.app
- Website: https://gobubble.app
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gobubbleapp
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gobubbleapp
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/gobubbleapp
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/faisalabujabal https://www.instagram.com/internationalmohd
