SOCIAL networking websites are crowding cyberspace, but that did not deter two Singaporeans from giving up their studies to set up yet another one with their pals.
Whosgoing.sg is not just a localised spin-off of more popular international networking sites such as Friendster and MySpace.
Such sites have popped up over the last few years to help people stay in touch with their friends by sharing photographs and journals.
Whosgoing takes things one step further - its members actually get to meet outside cyberspace.
The founders - six friends in their 20s - regularly organise parties and other events for members who get to attend for free.
The website has taken the online community here by storm since its launch last July, with more than 40,000 people signing up as members. Its first party at The Butter Factory attracted about 400 members.
Last December, Whosgoing held its biggest party to date, gathering 7,000 of its members on one night at the Ministry of Sound.
The turnout, which was even more surprising because the event was held on the same night as Zouk Out, was testimony to Whosgoing's pulling power.
Whosgoing, which makes money through online ads on the website, was started by six good friends who met in Anglo-Chinese School (Independent).
One of them, Mr Bob Iskandar, believed their website would catch on despite the proliferation of such communities in cyberspace because very few of them are based in Singapore.
To differentiate themselves further, they decided to target young people who shared their interest in the nightlife.
Mr Iskandar, 24, said: 'It is not only a networking site; it is a lifestyle portal for people with a common interest to come together and form a strong mini community online.'
His partner, Mr Samuel Gabriel, also 24, said the parties were what made Whosgoing stand out from other social networking sites as they helped its members build strong bonds 'outside the virtual world'.
The founders now throw about three parties a month at nightspots such as The Butter Factory, Ministry of Sound, Attica and DXO.
All members have to do is print out a copy of the entry ticket available on the website when they log in.
Whosgoing member Jessica Lee, 21, said: 'Now my friends and I can meet up frequently in clubs and we can spend the extra $25 saved on not having to pay for the entrance fee on drinks or cab fares instead.'
Although things are now going well for the website, the owners faced many problems when they started out.
For starters, they were all undergraduates when the website was launched. Skipping classes became the norm as each of them had to put in five hours a day just to run the site.
The tough juggling act eventually led Mr Gabriel and another founder Keith Ng, 24, to quit school to concentrate on the business.
The two took over the programming and maintenance of the portal from a company they had outsourced the work to, cutting costs by more than 60 per cent.
Mr Gabriel said: 'I saw an opportunity in this business and the timing was right, so I decided to concentrate fully on it. Paper qualifications can come later.'
He added: 'Although my mum reminded me that a degree is important in life, she trusted me to make my own decisions.'
As their company is a start-up, the six partners had to build their credibility from scratch.
They organised smaller parties at the beginning to make themselves better known in the community before moving on to larger-scale events.
Although the creators of Whosgoing were coy about how much each of them brings home a month, Mr Gabriel said he earns more than what he would have if he had graduated and found a job as an engineer.
However, the money does not come easy.
Every day, the guys clock more than 13 hours of work at their small and cosy office in Shaw Centre as they plan upcoming events, liaise with clubs and come up with proposals for advertisers.
They are planning to extend their business to include other social networking websites which cater to people with different interests such as sports and music.
Mr Iskandar said: 'We are all young and hungry for success and we have a long journey ahead of us. We aim to cover the nation and eventually the region through the creation of various websites to reach out to more people in cyberspace.'
