Hi, I'm Ylan 👋
I built Nibi because managing my finances as a freelancer in Quebec was driving me crazy 😅
I tried every financial app out there — from the big banks' solutions to trendy fintech startups. But they all had the same problems: either they were so automated that I'd lost track of my spending before I even opened the app (hello, surprise tax bill!), OR they were built for traditional employees with steady paychecks, not for freelancers juggling multiple clients, irregular income, and Quebec's unique tax requirements.
The breaking point came when I missed tracking three client invoices and nearly forgot to set aside money for QST. I realized I needed something different.
So I decided to build my own solution.
Nibi has 3 core principles:
Intentionally manual
Because as freelancers, we need to feel every transaction. Automation might save time, but awareness saves money (and tax headaches).
Beautifully simple
Good design makes manual entry feel effortless, not like a chore. If it's pleasant to use, you'll actually use it.
Dedicated to Canadians
Not adapted, not retrofitted, but built from the ground up for our reality: GST/QST calculations, bilingual support, and the unique challenges we face.
The name Nibi means "water" in Ojibwe. Just like water, money flows — sometimes it's abundant, sometimes it's scarce, but it always needs careful guidance. That's what Nibi is about: understanding and directing your financial flow with intention and clarity.
This isn't just another app for me — it's a tool I use every single day to run my own freelance business. Every feature, every design decision, comes from real pain points I've experienced. When tax season comes around, I'm actually prepared. When a client asks about my availability, I know exactly what my pipeline looks like.
If you're tired of financial apps that don't understand freelance life, or if you're just starting out and feeling overwhelmed by the business side of being independent, Nibi is built for you.
Check out my company Arfy where I help businesses with their digital transformation, read my thoughts on the Arfy Blog, or watch me build in public on YouTube and Twitch.
Thanks for taking the time to discover Nibi. Here's to taking control of our financial flow, one transaction at a time 🌊
Ylan
Creator of Nibi