Haz Hubble

FROM TIMID TO TENACIOUS. Haz Hubble remembers a defining moment from his childhood that changed his life. A timid, shy boy, Haz faced bullying at school until one day he stood up for himself and retaliated against his tormentor. “It was like there was before that moment Haz and after that moment Haz,” he recalls. This newfound confidence, coupled with his father leaving his family when Haz was 12, forced him to step up and become more independent. This challenging period became a catalyst for Haz’s entrepreneurial journey, instilling in him a relentless drive and resilience.

Growing up on the south coast of England, Haz lived a life split between privilege and hardship. Initially enjoying a comfortable life with his closeknit family, his world turned upside down when his father left, plunging them into financial uncertainty. “We moved from this amazing, beautiful house into a two-bedroom apartment we couldn’t afford,” Haz remembers. Despite these difficulties, Haz’s family remained his rock, teaching him the importance of independence and hard work. “My mom pushed me to be independent because I had to be,” he explains. This independence and the necessity to provide for his family drove Haz to start his first business in his early teens.

Eschewing higher education, Haz chose real-life business experience over academic pursuits. At 14, he began selling houses, and by 15, he had launched a creative agency offering graphic design, web development, and social media management. He continued to build his credentials, becoming the world’s youngest chartered management accountant at 20. “I loved learning in the real world,” Haz says, noting that the tangible impact of his work was far more compelling than academic study.

At 22, Haz took on the role of CFO at a 200-person company, a remarkable achievement that underscored his meteoric rise in the finance world. But his ultimate goal was always entrepreneurship. “The only reason I got into finance in the first place was to learn how to build companies,” he admits. After gaining extensive experience and financial stability, Haz felt it was the right time to pursue his dream. In 2022, he founded Pally, an AI-native relationship intelligence app designed to help users build deeper connections.

Pally has undergone several iterations since its inception. It started as a “Tinder for friends,” then pivoted to a social events discovery platform, and later to a messaging app. Each pivot brought new insights and improvements. The current version of Pally focuses on using AI to enhance personal and professional relationships by learning about users from their online footprint and suggesting ways to strengthen connections. “We want to be the relationship operating system,” Haz explains. “Our AI will help you manage your network, suggest meaningful interactions, and build stronger connections.”

REVOLUTIONIZING RELATIONSHIPS. Haz’s ambitions for Pally are sky-high. He envisions it becoming a category-defining company, potentially replacing platforms like LinkedIn by focusing on genuine relationship-building rather than transactional networking. “I want to build a trillion-dollar company,” he declares with characteristic boldness.

Haz’s journey as a founder has also been shaped by his experience as a bisexual man. Though he never had a big coming-out moment, he acknowledges the importance of representation and support within the founder community. “It’s something I’d not shown much in the founder community, but I have changed that in the last year, and feel great for opening up and showing more of myself.”

For aspiring LGBTQIA+ founders, Haz emphasizes the importance of listening to those who have gone before. “Every early founder would be far better off listening to the people ahead of them,” he advises. He stresses the value of mentors who are just one stage ahead, offering practical advice and insights. “Everyone makes the same mistakes as a founder,” he says. “If you really believe in your vision, you have to keep pushing through.”