I met my wife on a dating app. We're happily married. So I know firsthand that these platforms can work, that they can genuinely help people find love.
But I also know how broken the industry has become.
The problem isn't the concept
The idea of dating apps is sound: use technology to help people find compatible partners. Expand the pool of potential matches beyond your immediate social circle. Remove some of the awkwardness of approaching strangers.
The problem is the business model.
Misaligned incentives
When a dating app's revenue depends on keeping you engaged, their incentive isn't to help you find someone. It's to keep you swiping. The longer you're single, the longer you're a paying customer.
This creates a fundamental conflict of interest. And it shows in the product decisions:
- Fake notifications designed to lure you back
- Algorithmic manipulation that shows you the most attractive profiles right after you've used your free swipes
- Age-based pricing that charges some users six times more than others
These aren't bugs. They're features. The apps are working exactly as designed, they're just not designed to help you.
A different approach
Candor is built on a simple premise: a dating app should actually want you to find someone.
We measure success by relationships formed, not daily active users. We publish our pricing publicly (everyone pays the same). We don't send fake messages or manufacture urgency.
Is this a viable business? We think so. But even if it's harder, it's the right thing to build.
What's next
We're currently in early development, building the foundation for something different. If you're tired of being manipulated by dating apps, join our waitlist. We'd love to have you along for the journey.