Oxford: Start-up goKomplain crowdsources solutions

Oxford’s latest startup gives us an outlet for British uncomplaining reserve. goKomplain lets you to voice your discontent and allows the public to offer solutions. Coming out of Isis Innovation, the new company already boasts providing solutions when none seemed possible. 

The website goKomplain.com allows users to voice their opinions on almost any issue. Founder, Leonardo Davoudi, explained: “goKomplain is the place to go to if you have tried everything else and had no success. It gives you a voice when official channels have failed.

“The strength of our website lies in a link next to each post that says ‘Be a hero suggest a solution!’. Anyone can come to the rescue! goKomplain can help local businesses grow by offering their services and allows anyone to be a good Samaritan which could be as simple as giving comforting advice.”

The website has already come to the rescue of 82-year-old war veteran, Ray Edwards. Edwards tried to cancel a flight booking with a low-cost airline as soon as he was informed of a slot for a cancer operation. Even though the flight was five months away, his request was turned down. Living on a state pension, the £150 loss prompted Edwards to post on goKomplain.com. The solution came from a benefactor who saw his post and sent Edwards the money.

Edwards said: “Believe me, I would rather have the holiday than another operation. When I wrote to the airline, they said ‘We are sorry that you would like to cancel your holiday booking ... This means that a refund is due to you for the amount of £0.00.’ The compassion shown by the team at goKomplain and their network has gone a long way to help me.”

For goKomplain, Davoudi said: “It is a matter of great pride for us that we were able to help Mr Edwards and we hope he is the first of many.”

GoKomplain comes out of the Isis Software Incubator (ISI) and is one of a growing number of ventures that emerged from the ISI which has been in operation since 2010. The ISI supports nascent software ventures in the development of products or services and assists them to trade

Roy Azoulay who manages the ISI said: “The ISI is always looking for entrepreneurs who break the mould. In this case, Mr Davoudi is a doctoral candidate reading history who brings with him fresh ideas and experience working in the financial sector. That unique background coupled with support from the ISI has resulted in a powerful forum for finding solutions -a valuable tool for the consumer.”