Why I started topmate.io

Topmate.io is a platform designed to connect people across various domains for mentorship.

I started Topmate approx three years ago—born out of frustration (lol).

People often ask me why I charge for my time or why I created Topmate. Today, I’m sharing the reasons behind it.

I have been involved in community work for more than nine years through meetups, talks, blogging, and more. As a community-oriented person, I often received numerous messages from people seeking help, guidance, or answers to their career-related doubts.

Balancing my time between community work, my job, and personal life was already challenging. When strangers would reach out to me via direct messages asking for help, responding to them was understandably not my top priority. My job, community, and personal life came first. However, I noticed that many people didn’t respect these boundaries.

Once, I received a very rude message because I didn’t respond to someone’s question. That incident made me furious, and it was the moment I decided to create Topmate. The platform helps me connect with individuals who are genuinely serious about seeking guidance.

Topmate has allowed me to protect my time. I value people who respect my time, just as I respect theirs.

What do I do with the money I earn through Topmate? It goes back into the JSLovers or is used for giveaways, including conference tickets, books, or courses.

So, the next time you question someone for using Topmate, remember — no one is forcing you to book their time.

Happy learning!