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Meet Nicole Emrani Green of Givingli in West Hollywood

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Emrani Green.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Practicing in the field of psychology and psychotherapy for over ten years, I’ve worked with children, teens, adults, individuals, families, couples, etc. What I found is that they are all seeking support and positive connection. The longer I remained in this field, the more I learned the importance of humans supporting one another. I also recognized as technology has become more accessible, connection has become more distant. I began developing Givingli as a side project in hopes to make it easier to conveniently gift loving and positive messages in a fun and enjoyable way.

I originally thought Givingli would be primarily a way to celebrate special occasions, but it has become a way for everyday expression of love and vulnerable messaging for many. With our most popular cards from “thinking of you,” “missing you,” and “I love you” categories, I recognized that there was a large demand and need for a platform that enables genuine communication. As the app became increasingly popular, I decided to put a pause on practicing as a psychotherapist to focus on Giving full-time. Being able to help thousands of people on a larger scale has been an incredibly rewarding journey. Today, Givingli is partnered with dozens of independent artists, recognized design brands, and gifting brands, such as AirBnB, Uber, Nordstrom, SoulCycle, Sephora, etc., allowing Givingli to become the one-stop-shop for modern greetings and gifts.

Has it been a smooth road?
I wish I could say it has been a smooth road, but I’ve learned that the best things are never easy. It has been a challenge to learn how to immerse myself in a diverse set of industries and people, from internationally recognized brands to independent artists. Throughout this process, I’ve found that being open and vulnerable goes a long way for building strong connections. I’ve also learned a lot about the value of building a business from the ground up by watching my parents grow their businesses from nothing to something, as immigrants who came to America after the revolution in Iran. With that experience, I was lucky enough to grow up understanding the value of hustling, persistence, and hard work.

Also, starting a business as a female in a traditional community also had its challenges. I always feel like I have to work a little harder to prove myself, but I take on the challenge and use it to push myself beyond my comfort zone. One of my greatest motivating factors to keep pushing is to be a model for others who face similar challenges- hoping to empower them to not let the opinions and perspectives of others stand in the way of achieving their goals.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Givingli – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I am the founder and CEO of Givingli, an iOS app which lets you send cards and gifts via text message right now. You can choose from hundreds of curated virtual greeting cards designed by independent artists and recognized design brands, add your own text, doodles, stickers, photos and videos, even customize the background and envelope. Send it all from your phone via text message or in the app. You can even include a virtual gift card from one of our gifting partners, including brands like Sephora, Uber, AirBnB, Crate & Barrel, SoulCycle, Nordstrom, Whole Foods, Southwest Airlines, Nike, Spotify, and many more.

When considering relevant gifts, that you actually want to send, and great design, Givingli’s focus is on running as a modern platform to celebrate and acknowledge special moments.

I am most proud of the fact that we have become a popular platform for positive, loving, and supportive messaging- especially at a time like today where technology can lead us to feel more disconnected than ever. I am also proud of our consistent support of independent artists from around the world and crediting them 110%, as they deserve it more than ever. I believe what sets us apart is the ability to combine beautifully illustrated, boutique-quality designs, with relevant and modern gifts, all on a clean, fun, and easy to use platform- with endless possibilities for customizability. We believe that the self-expression of our users is extremely important and we’re constantly thinking about how to better improve our platform to accommodate that.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love LA because I being in a city with so much diversity. Every day, I get to meet people from a range of industries, including entertainment, art, health, and now more than ever, tech. I’m also very fortunate to be a founder in a city where there’s a rise in female founders. Given that has always been my home- I was born here and grew up here, so I’m very lucky to be surrounded by my friends and family and many other amazing people I’ve met along the way. And then of course, being close to the water and the sunny weather are two incredible factors I think us Angelenos can take for granted. I love being out-doors yet I also love the city life, so to be in a place that can combine the two is amazing.

I have to say that I truly feel like I live in one of the best cities in the world, so there isn’t much that I dislike about this city. If I had to choose, I would have to say the traffic! But hey- it only reflects on how poplar this city is, right?

Pricing:

  • With the high price of greeting cards ($8-$11), Givingli’s greeting cards are either free or can be purchased for around 99 cents- to $1.99, to make boutique-quality greeting cards accessible wherever, whenever.
  • One thing is we do have free cards available 😊 Our “premium cards” are indeed $0.99 – $1.99. However, all new users will automatically have credits in their account which can allow them to send up to 2-5 premium cards (depending on the pricing) on us!

Contact Info:


Image Credit:
Cibelle Levi

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