From Argentina to Israel: The WhatsApp chatbot that finds you events in Tel Aviv - for free
How many times have you reached the weekend without plans? Meet CHAT WITH YARA. In just one week, almost 1,000 people in Tel Aviv alone have tried the AI chatbot that finds you the hottest events based on a database from social networks. Entrepreneur Yaara Shiran, who started it in Buenos Aires and has more than 4,000 users, is dreaming big: "The next destination is New York," she says.
Yaara Shiran (26), a student at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem living in Tel Aviv, never planned to start a startup during her exchange year in Buenos Aires. But her trip took a surprising turn. After being accepted to study in Australia, the trip was cancelled at the last minute, and Shiran found herself in Argentina — the destination she had ranked last in her preferences. Landing in Buenos Aires without knowing the city or speaking Spanish, she faced a basic daily difficulty: how to find the most interesting events? Instead of giving up, she created a tool to help both tourists and locals gather all options in one place. Meet YARA.AI, the AI chatbot that searches for things for you to do.
"I started creating the product and decided to launch it there, even though launching in a market where you don't speak the language isn't very logical. I launched it last December, and it works really well," Shiran tells us in an interview for the Tel Aviv launch. "I have a local team there, and the expansion in Israel is a continuation of the startup. The goal is for it to be in every major global city with a lot of tourists."
Shiran's idea was simple: an AI-based personal assistant inside WhatsApp. Users can ask questions in free language, like in ChatGPT, and receive personalized recommendations, such as family activities on Saturday or parties on Friday. The system requires no app downloads, registration, or subscriptions: you simply save the number and start chatting.
But the road was not easy. Shiran lacked a deep programming background, and after over ten failed attempts with various developers, she took matters into her own hands. "I broke down and did it myself. I spent weeks talking to ChatGPT and created the MVP (minimum viable product)," she admits. Later, co-founder Alexis Jankowski, a professional programmer, joined to rebuild the system into a more stable version.
Unlike platforms relying on event producers to upload content, Shiran's venture operates proactively. A team manually selects high-quality events from social networks, focusing on Instagram. The AI system then scans and processes this information to make it accessible for the user.
This ensures recommendations are curated based on what the team truly believes in. The platform offers easy access to free public events with links to original posts, as well as direct links to purchase tickets for paid events.
From love stories in Argentina to the peak in Tel Aviv
The Buenos Aires launch brought about 4,000 users who rely on the bot for their outings. The brand's Instagram posts have reached 90,000 views. Shiran shares a success story: a local influencer found his current partner thanks to the chat, using it to plan their dates.
"People use it to find dates, new friends, and specific communities. It's really valuable for those who don't know the city," Shiran explains. "I'm surprised by how much locals need it too. I was sure it would only explode among tourists, but even residents want a tool to filter events and gather everything in one place."
The service launched in Tel Aviv about a week ago, with nearly a thousand users in the first week. The goal is to reach 3,000–4,000 monthly users and continue expanding.
Business model and future plans
Although the service is free, Shiran is formulating an economic model. This includes partnerships, ticket sales commissions, and paid event promotion. A future subscription model will offer a premium tier with exclusive events.
Currently, the company operates with low costs thanks to AI and WhatsApp. The project raised modest initial funding used for operations in Buenos Aires and Tel Aviv. Shiran's next goal is to raise additional investment to launch in New York, followed by London, Paris, and Miami.
Finally, Shiran gives advice to young entrepreneurs: "Let your self-belief be the strongest driving force. If you believe in your idea, roll up your sleeves, and work hard enough, you will get there. Stay open to learning and don't fear mistakes — they are a healthy part of the process."
