Ahmedabad: As India’s creator economy continues to expand, a new Ahmedabad-based startup is looking to transform how experts, professionals and influencers connect with their audiences. ConnectingI has launched a dedicated platform that enables verified professionals to monetise one-on-one private conversations while retaining 100% of the income they earn from each paid message.
The platform has been designed to address a common challenge faced by content creators and professionals on conventional social media platforms. While influencers, educators, coaches and subject-matter experts receive thousands of direct messages from followers every day, responding personally to every query is often impractical. As a result, meaningful interactions between users and experts are frequently lost amid overwhelming volumes of messages.
ConnectingI aims to bridge this communication gap by offering a structured marketplace where users can directly connect with verified professionals through paid private messaging. Unlike traditional social networking platforms that focus primarily on followers, engagement and advertising revenue, ConnectingI places personalised conversations at the centre of its business model.
A New Income Opportunity for Professionals
One of the platform’s standout features is its revenue model. Professionals are free to decide how much they wish to charge for responding to private messages, allowing them to monetise their expertise according to their experience, demand and niche.
The company says creators receive 100% of the amount they charge per message, without any deduction from their messaging income. Instead of taking a commission from professionals, the platform generates revenue separately through a thread-start fee paid by users initiating conversations. This approach allows experts to retain complete control over their earnings while offering transparent pricing to users.
Built for More Than Just Influencers
Although social media influencers are among the platform’s target users, ConnectingI has been designed for a much broader professional community.
The startup is inviting registrations from professionals across multiple sectors, including:
- Fitness Coaches
- IELTS Trainers
- Stock Market Educators and Analysts
- Relationship Coaches
- Tarot Card Readers
- Doctors
- Lawyers
- Startup Mentors
- Career Coaches
- Consultants
- Teachers
- Financial Experts
- Astrologers
- Content Creators
According to the company, anyone capable of providing personalised guidance or specialised knowledge can use the platform to build an independent source of recurring income through paid conversations.
Responding to Changing Digital Behaviour
Founder Swapnil Thakkar believes the role of social media has evolved significantly over the years. Rather than simply following celebrities or collecting likes, users increasingly seek genuine advice, mentorship and personalised interaction with trusted experts.
ConnectingI has been developed around this changing consumer behaviour by creating a secure environment where users pay for direct access to verified professionals, reducing uncertainty and improving the quality of online interactions.
The startup also positions the platform as a solution for professionals who possess valuable knowledge but may not have millions of followers. By allowing users to charge for expertise instead of popularity, the company hopes to create new monetisation opportunities beyond the traditional influencer economy.
More Features Planned
At present, ConnectingI supports paid text-based private messaging. However, the company has outlined plans to expand its services in future updates by introducing paid voice calls and video consultations.
These additions are expected to provide professionals with multiple monetisation options while giving users greater flexibility in how they seek advice and guidance.
Supporting India’s Creator Economy
India’s creator economy has witnessed rapid growth in recent years, with professionals increasingly exploring alternative income streams beyond advertising, sponsorships and brand collaborations. ConnectingI aims to contribute to this ecosystem by offering a platform focused on direct, paid communication between experts and users.
The startup believes its model can create sustainable earning opportunities for professionals while helping users access reliable, personalised guidance without relying on crowded social media inboxes.
ConnectingI is currently accepting registrations from professionals and users across India as it seeks to build a nationwide community centred on trusted one-on-one digital conversations.