Matthew Gaziano is Co-Founder and COO at Belong, a Dubai-based social app designed to connect individuals within cities and combat loneliness. He co-founded the company in 2019 with Michael Askew after experiencing firsthand the challenges of building social connections in new cities.

Matthew lived in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for seven years before moving to Dubai, where he worked at Al Khayyat Investments (AKI) and EB Designs International. He studied at the University of Lincoln.

Matthew has been instrumental in refining Belong's user experience, working closely with data and users to ensure the platform efficiently connects like-minded people online and facilitates real-life meetups. The platform has grown to over 350,000 users across Dubai, San Francisco, and New York.

Belong raised $3.5 million total, including a $1.5 million pre-Series A round in 2023, with funding from crowdfunding campaigns and angel investors. The company employs 27 people and has expanded operations to major US cities.

Belong addresses the loneliness epidemic affecting over 58% of American adults by providing a platform where users can join interest-based groups, attend events, and form meaningful friendships. The app has achieved strong organic growth through word-of-mouth and referrals.