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From Rejection to Representation: The First Roma Social App on the App Store
Amaro Than Team · Jan 11, 2026
Our journey with the App Store began with hope, determination, and a vision. Amaro Than, the first-ever Roma social app, was ready to bring a central digital space for a community long underrepresented. Built by Roma, for Roma and their friends, we submitted the app for review, eager to make history.
The first response from App Store Connect was a rejection. Safety, moderation, and privacy flows needed improvement. At first, it was discouraging. Months of work seemed paused by a single notification. But we realized this was guidance, not failure. With Apple’s feedback as our roadmap, we strengthened reporting systems, rebuilt blocking mechanisms, enhanced AI moderation, clarified privacy, and refined accessibility. Every part of the app was re-examined through Apple’s lens of safety and standards.
Weeks later, we submitted again. The second rejection arrived, followed by a third, fourth, and fifth. Each time, Apple provided clear, detailed guidance. We listened carefully, iterated, and improved. Every rejection pushed us to make Amaro Than stronger, safer, and more inclusive. Privacy flows were rewritten, moderation systems redesigned, and accessibility features improved. Documentation was clarified, and explanatory notes were added for App Store reviewers.
We realized that success required more than just technical fixes—it required collaboration. We communicated directly with Apple, walking them through every feature, every safeguard, and every cultural nuance. With each conversation, our understanding of App Store expectations deepened, and Amaro Than evolved into something even better than ever before.
Four months passed, filled with revisions, tests, and calls with App Store Connect. What began as repeated rejection became a journey of learning, refinement, and resilience. Every obstacle strengthened our commitment to safety, accessibility, and community trust.
Finally, on January 10, 2026, at exactly 1:54 PM, the moment we had worked for arrived: Amaro Than was approved and went live on the App Store. This timestamp will always be remembered as a historic moment in Amaro Than’s story. The first-ever Roma social app had officially launched. Every rejection, every conversation with Apple, every revision had shaped an app stronger, safer, and more inclusive than we had ever imagined.
Today, Amaro Than stands as a milestone of persistence and collaboration. With Apple’s guidance, the app is safer, smarter, and more powerful than ever. Features like Netvorko, Ainara, Amalipe, and the Adaptive Bar now shine within a fully compliant ecosystem, offering the global Roma community a platform for connection, growth, and empowerment.
Our journey proves that persistence, careful listening, and collaboration with Apple can transform repeated rejections into achievement. Amaro Than is more than an app—it is history in the App Store, a story of resilience, improvement, and empowerment, and a digital home that will continue to grow, guided by Apple’s standards and support.