# What is Milvao

> Milvao lets members of your WhatsApp community ask for help privately and meet the right member, with both agreeing before any number is shared.

Source: https://milvao.com/help/getting-started/what-is-milvao · Updated 2026-11-06

## Key takeaways

- Milvao adds a private side door to your WhatsApp groups. Members ask for help one to one, and Milvao introduces them to the right member.
- Your groups stay exactly as they are. Milvao never joins, reads or posts in them.
- A phone number is shared only after two yeses, from the person asking and the person matched.
- Matching is automatic by default. The owner can switch to approving each match in Settings.
- Members use WhatsApp as they do today. They need no app and no account, and Milvao is free for them.

Milvao is a private request and introduction desk for communities that already run on WhatsApp groups: paid business networks, founder communities, accelerators and alumni groups. Members who need something message your community's business number one to one, and Milvao finds the member who can help. Nobody's number is shared until both people agree.

## How it works in one minute

1. **You add your groups.** In **Groups and links**, you create one record for each WhatsApp group you run and create a join link for it. See [Groups and join links](/help/community/groups-and-join-links).
2. **Members join.** You pin the link in the group. A member taps it, WhatsApp opens a chat with your business number with a **JOIN** message already typed, and they press send.
3. **Members fill in a profile.** Milvao replies with a private link. The member adds their name, city and what they can help with, and chooses whether they want to receive introduction requests. See [Your profile](/help/members/your-profile).
4. **A member asks for help.** They describe what they need in their own words, in English or Hinglish, for example an office to rent in Mohali. Milvao turns it into a short brief and the member confirms it. See [How requests work](/help/requests/how-requests-work).
5. **Milvao finds the right member.** By default Milvao asks the best-fitting member itself, one at a time, without the asker's name or number. The owner can switch to approving each match instead. See [Matching modes](/help/requests/matching-modes).
6. **Both say yes, then contacts are shared.** If the member accepts, each side gets the other's contact privately on WhatsApp. See [Introductions and contact sharing](/help/requests/introductions-and-contact-sharing).

> [!NOTE]
> Groups, join links, member profiles, the member directory, verification and member commands are available today. Requests and introductions are being rolled out now. Until they reach your community, a member who writes a request gets a reply saying requests open soon, and the message is kept.

## What your team does

Your team works in the Milvao dashboard at **app.milvao.com**. The sidebar has:

| Page | What it's for |
|---|---|
| **Overview** | Setup checklist, key numbers and recent activity. See [Pilot setup checklist](/help/getting-started/pilot-setup-checklist) |
| **Requests** | Requests from members, and the ones that need your team |
| **Introductions** | Every introduction offer and where it stands |
| **Members** | Everyone who joined, with filters. See [The member directory](/help/community/member-directory) |
| **Groups and links** | Your groups and their join links |
| **Settings** | Matching, community details, team, skills and cities, and your business number. See [Community settings](/help/team-and-settings/community-settings) |

There are two roles: the **owner** and **operators**. See [Roles and your team](/help/team-and-settings/roles-and-team).

## What Milvao doesn't do

- It doesn't read, join or post in your WhatsApp groups. It only sees messages members send to your business number.
- It doesn't share anyone's number without both people agreeing to that specific introduction.
- It doesn't send members introduction requests unless they turned that on in their profile.
- It doesn't show members' phone numbers to your team. Numbers are masked on every dashboard screen. Only the owner can export full numbers, with a reason that is recorded in the activity log.

## Frequently asked questions

### Do members need an app?
No. Members use WhatsApp as they do today. Their profile opens in the browser from a private link Milvao sends them, and they need no account or password.

### Whose WhatsApp number is used?
Your community's own business number, connected through the official WhatsApp Business Platform. The owner connects it in **Settings → WhatsApp number** with a step-by-step guide, or Milvao staff connect it with you during the pilot. Its status shows in **Settings → Business number**.

### Do members pay anything?
No. Milvao is free for members. The community pays for Milvao.