Launch HN: Manara (YC W21) – Connect Middle East engineers with global companies • Hacker News Board

Re: Launch HN: Manara (YC W21) – Connect Middle East engineers with global companies

#21

Post by laila90 » Wed, Jan 20, 2021, 7:28 PM UTC

aloukissas wrote: post #19

Oh man, the name is unfortunate. It's slang for "babe" (for girls) in Greek. Also the last name of one of the most famous erotic comic artists (Milo Manara). Fun times!

oh yeah, we've heard about that recently from a Greek friend! Thankfully it seems like the Greek language is the only one in which our name has a weird meaning (at least so far), and hopefully it’s not offensive? Manara means “lighthouse” in Arabic. We did lots of user testing with various name options and this one was most positively perceived in Europe, North America, and MENA. Now we just need to get really great SEO to show up at the top of search results :)

Re: Launch HN: Manara (YC W21) – Connect Middle East engineers with global companies

#22

Post by ilianam » Wed, Jan 20, 2021, 7:40 PM UTC

Jugurtha wrote: post #20

laila90 wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hi! Ahlan! Azul! Really appreciate your bringing these issues up. Regarding payments, this has been coming up and we’ll need to pick your brain as we develop solutions. For now we are managing payments for companies that hire remotely by wire transferring the funds ourselves. In other words, the companies send the money to our US entity and then we do the transfer. We’ve also been looking at https://pilot.co/ https:/…

> Regarding payments, this has been coming up and we’ll need to pick your brain as we develop solutions. My contact information is in my profile. I'll forward to some people I know who had several problems with that. The last one I talked with worked with a company in the U.K. with the restriction the "worker" had to have a bank account in their country of residence, not in any other country. Explanations on exchange…

Hi, Iliana responding this time. I can’t emphasize how much we appreciate your feedback! You’re totally correct about the word “Arab” - we should’ve caught that and am glad you brought it to our attention.

The situation with the exchange rate in Algeria is a real problem. Like you said, the banks’ exchange rate is much lower than it should be. When I was there I spent a day with a friend’s friend who runs a side business exchanging money, so I saw some of what this looks like on the ground. I’ll reach out now to pick your brain more on this topic.

Thank you again for your feedback & for spreading the word! So grateful.

Re: Launch HN: Manara (YC W21) – Connect Middle East engineers with global companies

#23

Post by mtalantikite » Wed, Jan 20, 2021, 7:40 PM UTC

Jugurtha wrote: post #4

Hi, Laila. Congratulations on the launch. I'll share this (Algiers, Algeria). One of the problems people here have is getting paid from companies abroad. I think it would be good to conduct interviews with people who may be having the same problem, and either offer a solution or explain it on the website. Many people work as freelancers, and the way they get their money is Herculean. Also, many, especially here, neit…

"Also, many, especially here, neither are Arab nor identify as such."

Came here to say the same -- I grew up in the US, but my family is Kabyle and you definitely don't want to call my father Arab!

Re: Launch HN: Manara (YC W21) – Connect Middle East engineers with global companies

#24

Post by laila90 » Wed, Jan 20, 2021, 7:48 PM UTC

mtalantikite wrote: post #23

Jugurtha wrote: post #4

Hi, Laila. Congratulations on the launch. I'll share this (Algiers, Algeria). One of the problems people here have is getting paid from companies abroad. I think it would be good to conduct interviews with people who may be having the same problem, and either offer a solution or explain it on the website. Many people work as freelancers, and the way they get their money is Herculean. Also, many, especially here, neit…

"Also, many, especially here, neither are Arab nor identify as such." Came here to say the same -- I grew up in the US, but my family is Kabyle and you definitely don't want to call my father Arab!

Totally - really appreciate you guys for flagging this.

Edit: edited this now in the text above!

Re: Launch HN: Manara (YC W21) – Connect Middle East engineers with global companies

#25

Post by mtalantikite » Wed, Jan 20, 2021, 7:56 PM UTC

laila90 wrote: post #24

mtalantikite wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Also, many, especially here, neither are Arab nor identify as such." Came here to say the same -- I grew up in the US, but my family is Kabyle and you definitely don't want to call my father Arab!

Totally - really appreciate you guys for flagging this. Edit: edited this now in the text above!

The whole thing looks great though, really happy you're working on this!

Re: Launch HN: Manara (YC W21) – Connect Middle East engineers with global companies

#26

Post by laila90 » Wed, Jan 20, 2021, 7:59 PM UTC

mtalantikite wrote: post #25

laila90 wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Totally - really appreciate you guys for flagging this. Edit: edited this now in the text above!

The whole thing looks great though, really happy you're working on this!

Aww thank you! It makes us happy to work on this too. Interacting with talent in the region is just so heartwarming.

Re: Launch HN: Manara (YC W21) – Connect Middle East engineers with global companies

#27

Post by filleduchaos » Wed, Jan 20, 2021, 8:06 PM UTC

Jugurtha wrote: post #20

laila90 wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hi! Ahlan! Azul! Really appreciate your bringing these issues up. Regarding payments, this has been coming up and we’ll need to pick your brain as we develop solutions. For now we are managing payments for companies that hire remotely by wire transferring the funds ourselves. In other words, the companies send the money to our US entity and then we do the transfer. We’ve also been looking at https://pilot.co/ https:/…

> Regarding payments, this has been coming up and we’ll need to pick your brain as we develop solutions. My contact information is in my profile. I'll forward to some people I know who had several problems with that. The last one I talked with worked with a company in the U.K. with the restriction the "worker" had to have a bank account in their country of residence, not in any other country. Explanations on exchange…

> What I also meant by payment problems is the disparity between the conversion rates in banks and on the streets.

This is also a problem where I live (Nigeria).

It's exhausting explaining black/parallel currency markets to clients/employers in countries with more stable currencies. Way too often I get the knee-jerk reaction that I'm doing something shady/illegal.

Re: Launch HN: Manara (YC W21) – Connect Middle East engineers with global companies

#28

Post by Jugurtha » Wed, Jan 20, 2021, 8:15 PM UTC

filleduchaos wrote: post #27

Jugurtha wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Regarding payments, this has been coming up and we’ll need to pick your brain as we develop solutions. My contact information is in my profile. I'll forward to some people I know who had several problems with that. The last one I talked with worked with a company in the U.K. with the restriction the "worker" had to have a bank account in their country of residence, not in any other country. Explanations on exchange…

> What I also meant by payment problems is the disparity between the conversion rates in banks and on the streets. This is also a problem where I live (Nigeria). It's exhausting explaining black/parallel currency markets to clients/employers in countries with more stable currencies. Way too often I get the knee-jerk reaction that I'm doing something shady/illegal.

filleduchaos, that's a badass handle.

>It's exhausting explaining black/parallel currency markets to clients/employers

What's the delta like there between parallel/official rates?

Re: Launch HN: Manara (YC W21) – Connect Middle East engineers with global companies

#29

Post by Jugurtha » Wed, Jan 20, 2021, 8:22 PM UTC

ilianam wrote: post #22

Jugurtha wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Regarding payments, this has been coming up and we’ll need to pick your brain as we develop solutions. My contact information is in my profile. I'll forward to some people I know who had several problems with that. The last one I talked with worked with a company in the U.K. with the restriction the "worker" had to have a bank account in their country of residence, not in any other country. Explanations on exchange…

Hi, Iliana responding this time. I can’t emphasize how much we appreciate your feedback! You’re totally correct about the word “Arab” - we should’ve caught that and am glad you brought it to our attention. The situation with the exchange rate in Algeria is a real problem. Like you said, the banks’ exchange rate is much lower than it should be. When I was there I spent a day with a friend’s friend who runs a side busi…

You're welcome. I just sent the link to someone who can be very useful: he has experience working in freelance and probably can share many problems from the field. He also has lead a youth organization here and placed many people in internships and positions in companies all over the world, has been around, and has a deeper understanding of the several hurdles, from visas to payment problems.

Re: Launch HN: Manara (YC W21) – Connect Middle East engineers with global companies

#30

Post by ilianam » Wed, Jan 20, 2021, 8:27 PM UTC

Jugurtha wrote: post #29

ilianam wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hi, Iliana responding this time. I can’t emphasize how much we appreciate your feedback! You’re totally correct about the word “Arab” - we should’ve caught that and am glad you brought it to our attention. The situation with the exchange rate in Algeria is a real problem. Like you said, the banks’ exchange rate is much lower than it should be. When I was there I spent a day with a friend’s friend who runs a side busi…

You're welcome. I just sent the link to someone who can be very useful: he has experience working in freelance and probably can share many problems from the field. He also has lead a youth organization here and placed many people in internships and positions in companies all over the world, has been around, and has a deeper understanding of the several hurdles, from visas to payment problems.

Sweet! Thank you