Lucas hands his phone to Claudia, the manager of the Cercle de la Vap.
The 23-year-old young man bought a vaping device in this store in Saint-Germain-sur-Morin (Seine-et-Marne) without having taken out any cash or bank card.
He paid thanks to his prize pool accumulated on Polymate, a social network which pays its users.
It was Armel Satchivi, a resident of Bailly-Romainvilliers, who designed it.
It offers people registered on its application the opportunity to earn money… simply by publishing posts!
Created in 2017, this network, whose application is free, has 400,000 users in 171 countries.
From now on, they can spend the prize pool accumulated thanks to their publications at the Cercle de la Vap, the first Seine-et-Marnais business that agrees to be paid via the application.
Lucas accumulated 110 euros in his kitty and was able to spend them in the Le Cercle de la Vap store.
LP/Marie Briand-Locu
How does it work ?
To register, you must send a photo of your identity card.
“We do not accept anonymity for security,” warns the founder.
The user can then add friends and publish photos, videos or stories.
He has access to all the publications of people located nearby because the application is geolocated.
But if he wants to see content from his friends outside his area, he must watch an ad lasting 0 to 30 seconds.
This is how the user makes money.
“We take 50% of the winnings,” explains Armel.
On Facebook and Instagram, 90% of people receive no remuneration.
The remaining 10% are influencers.
Our goal is to give power back to users by allowing them to generate income through advertising included in our application.
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A fundraising of 100,000 euros
After leaving school at 18, Armel, soon to be 37, with a calm voice, created an events company at 19.
He imagined his concept in 2017. “It was supposed to be a location-based dating application.
It quickly evolved into a network, he remembers.
At the start, we had 300 users.
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He who admits to “ups and downs”, before adding “as with any project”, put 50,000 euros on the table.
“We raised 100,000 euros in funds.
We have eleven investors.
We are happy with the progress even if we hoped it would go faster,” admits the thirty-year-old who manages his application with an associate and seven service developers.
The controversy surrounding the Magali Berdah affair may have affected the confidence of the French in the networks.
Indeed, the popess of influencers got into trouble with the law because some of her friends promoted questionable products to their community.
“It’s true that in France, there have been so many broken promises that people no longer necessarily believe in them,” concedes Armel, who seeks to reassure.
As a result, the application works mainly in Brazil.
More locally, 6,000 Ile-de-France residents have registered.
“She seduces more women than men,” he observes.
The age range is 18-45 years old.
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“Some people make 1,400 euros per month in Brazil”
Taking a look at the poster which shows an amount of 1,700 euros, we wonder if it is possible to arrive at such a sum.
“With 100 followers and posting every day, a user can earn around ten euros per month.
This can increase by up to a hundred euros.
From 500 followers, it can increase to thousands, assures Armel.
Some make 1,400 euros per month in Brazil!
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Armel Satchivi, founder of the social network, plans to develop partnerships with other businesses.
“We ask our registrants to share their passion and expertise in certain areas.
This allows them to connect with other people who share the same interest, Armel adds.
The goal is to create a strong universe to attract as many followers as possible.
» Two moderators, also service providers, control the publications.
But registrants can also make reports.
Since its creation, the application has been opened to professionals and 12,000 brands have registered.
Armel now wishes to develop partnerships with other businesses.
Claudia, the manager of the Cercle de la Vap, sees it as an “opportunity” to make herself known.
Because users can recover their prize pool on their account only from 70 euros.
With this partnership, they have the possibility to spend it, even below this amount, in Claudia's store.
“I like geolocatable content”
Lucas bought an electronic cigarette.
With 150 followers, he has earned 110 euros since his registration in 2018. “The fact that it is paid is attractive,” recognizes the Chellois.
I like geotagged content.
This can help you discover places.
» Martin, a developer, especially emphasizes that “it’s an application that forces you to watch advertising”.
Neige, a 27-year-old user, procrastinates by comparing it to “little ads about free games”.
This manager of a tourist establishment who has been using it for two years loves it and finds it “more interactive than other networks”.
With 150 friends, she accumulated 50 euros.
“From 500, we can do advertising campaigns for brands.
When the application is known, it could go very quickly!
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