I didn’t think that joining BBYO would lead me to build a top-ranked iOS app, but that’s exactly what happened. I’m the creator of (Seat Maker), a seating chart arrangement app that helps people contact their friends with preplanned seating charts at events. Here’s my story...

My name is Austin Frankel, and I am a rising senior and Mazkir of the Hudson Valley Region. I first joined YO in 9th grade because my parents forced me to find a connection with Judaism. I agreed to go, once. Then I went, again. And again. The moment I met my brother Alephs and sister BBGs, I fell in love with a community which I now refer to as my second family.

I still remember my first winter convention like it was yesterday. Specifically, though, I remember meals - they were absolute chaos. Everyone was texting, yelling across the room, and circling the dining hall trying to find their friends. At that moment, I thought to myself, what if there was an app that created a seating plan in seconds? I knew there were websites out there, but they were impractical and way too complicated. I didn’t have the time or patience for that.

That night, sitting in my hotel room, I pulled out the pen from the nightstand and sketched out the first version of Seat Maker on the hotel notepad. I barely knew how to code, and had never built an iOS app before, but I was ready to learn.

BBYO helped me more than I can explain. As Rakkaz and an International Convention Steerer, I learned how to plan big events, market ideas, and actually make things happen. From Mossad AZA members, who were future computer science majors, to people I met from around the world, BBYO gave me the confidence and community to foster relationships to help me succeed.

This week, I just launched my Seat Maker app and, to my surprise, within the first twenty-four hours, it ranked #4 in the country for Lifestyle apps. Aside from the rankings, I had just achieved a feat that I would never have been able to do if it were not for BBYO. This community taught me how to think creatively and how to believe in myself. And now, I am positive, this is only the beginning.

Seat Maker App

Seat Maker Website

Seat Maker Instagramas if it were,