T.J. Elbert, senior in marketing, created an application that is available through Apple’s App Store called Just Add Me. It allows people to add new friends on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at the same time.

Elbert’s concept began as a simple way to check in at a party, but it has morphed into an easier way to add the people you meet on social media.

“When I meet new people, I hated going to each social media site adding them,” said Elbert. “It just took too much time, or else you forget their name or how to spell it.”

Just Add Me allows people to add others quickly in one place. The app includes the ability to add users via their respective Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts.

“What I did was you get Facebook and Twitter free, and you can add Instagram for a dollar,” Elbert said. Elbert went through the process to try and add LinkedIn to the app as well, but he was denied.

“I am just always up to something, looking to better myself or my resume,” Elbert said. He keeps a notebook of ideas and frequently asks his friends their opinions.

Kyle Martin, senior in supply chain management and a friend of Elbert, said, “As soon as T.J. told me about this idea, I thought it was a good idea and told him it was something I thought he needed to pursue.”

Anytime Elbert was not being proactive or progress seemed to be moving slow to him, Martin was there to tell him to “Be successful” or play a little Eric Thomas — a motivational speaker — to keep Elbert motivated. Martin, however, said Elbert was being too modest and deserves a lot of credit.

Elbert is currently working to promote Just Add Me. Several colleges, including Iowa State, have now sent out promotional emails about Elbert’s app. On Apple’s App Store, Just Add Me has only been available since Feb. 4 and already has more than 500 downloads.

He invested $6,000 into the stock market in order to fund the project. Just Add Me took Elbert — assisted by freelancers that created code, layout and design — six months to make a reality. Although Just Add Me has finally made it to the App Store, Elbert is not done. He is currently working on the ability to connect Just Add Me to Tinder as well.