You’ve probably heard of dating apps like Tinder, Hinge, and Bumble, but have you heard of Approach? Approach is a new dating app that aims to connect people in a more authentic way by connecting them in person at local partner businesses and events. The founders of Approach, cousins Riley and Rylee Foster, were inspired to create the app after their own frustrating experiences with online dating. They found that 72% of users were also dissatisfied with the way dating apps connect people in a vacuum.
Most dating apps allow users to filter by height or occupation and connect with other users through swiping and messaging. But Approach is different. Instead of connecting people through the app, Approach connects people in person at local partner businesses and events. The app also features a “live” feature, similar to Meetup, that allows users to see who else is at a certain event and meet up at a designated safe place. This allows for a more authentic first interaction, rather than spending hours swiping and messaging before meeting in person.
The founders of Approach started their journey in 2020 by validating the concept and finding out how many people were frustrated with traditional dating apps. They launched a minimum viable product (MVP) on the App Store and Google Play Store, which currently connects users at beta partner businesses. These businesses offer incentives, such as buy one get one free, to encourage users to meet up at their location. Currently this Approach feature is being trialed in the St Louis, Missouri, United States area.
Approach also hosts singles events at different partner businesses, such as “Single Night of the Blues” on February 16th. These events can be found on the Approach website, and businesses can also sign up to be listed as a first date location or host singles events.
For those interested in getting involved with Approach, you can download the app on the App Store or Google Play Store, or visit the website to learn more about upcoming events and how to sign up as a partner business. Approach is more than just a dating app, it’s a new way to connect with people in a more authentic and efficient way.