A DIGITAL entrepreneur says he has secured a £250,000 investment in an app which he set up to rival the likes of Facebook and LinkedIn.

Kieran Roper, 30, attracted the money to help design, build and market Flippie, which already has thousands of people signed up.

He came up with the idea while studying for a degree in interior design and architecture at Bournemouth University and plans to unveil it during this year’s Freshers Week.

He said: “Flippie allows users to seamlessly flip between two online profiles – a work and a play mode – on a single screen.

“It’s a bit like having all the best bits of existing social media sites in one place.”

The system will store unlimited images and videos like Instagram, display status updates and share information like Facebook and allow for real-time interaction like Twitter and Snapchat, he said.

It will also provide a platform for job ads connected to a CV forum similar to LinkedIn.

Employers will be able to post ads, hold video link interviews and access conference calling facilities – something he says has already interested recruitment firms.

Mr Roper won Princes Trust funding for another of his inventions, a golf caddy, when he was 18.

He said: “All too often we hear about people who lose their jobs because of their irresponsible use of social media.

“Flippie means the two worlds are kept separate and the user has complete control over who can access what area of the site.”

He said he worked on the concept during university after spotting a gap in the market.

“I took a placement year in Miami and filled my Facebook feed with pictures of me having fun,” he said.

“Then I realised I didn’t want to give off the wrong impression to prospective employers – all of which check out social media these days before considering hiring someone.

“I saw a gap for a site where you could speak to people instantly but in different capacities.”

He employed Creative Intent to build the platform and PR and marketing company Rudd Widdup.

Paul Mayne, director of Creative Intent, said the site had the potential to “change the face of social media”.

Helen Rudd, director at Rudd Widdup, said: “It seems Bournemouth University was the starting point for something incredible.”