Dattch creator Robyn Exton regarding the challenges of pitching a lesbian dating app
It is difficult to argue along with her whenever you hear the long listing of other feedback and concerns: «You can’t come to be a lesbian, you have hair that is long; «you should probably dress just a little less like a female»; «We just discover the whole notion of a lesbian software bizarre» and «I think you will need to refine your strap line to simplify everything you do, i will suggest ‘Dattch. Because lesbians get lonely too’.»
Exton claims she realizes that she actually is running within a distinct segment market and requirements to coach investors, who’re mostly middle-aged guys that don’t learn about what women are shopping for from the lesbian scene that is dating. «that is fine. However in 2013 you mustn’t have to ask if some one could possibly be a lesbian simply because they have actually long hair,» she states. «Thankfully none of those reviews came from those who have really committed to the business enterprise,» Exton points down.
Dattch — that is increasingly being incubated at Wayra — had been created as a relationship software designed by ladies, for females. Previous lesbian apps that are dating had a tendency to be reskinned versions of homosexual apps. The ladies’ counterpart to location-based hookup app Grindr so there’s Brenda, which is the female version of gay app Bender, and Grindr for girls.
Dattch began life (in private beta) showing people the user that is closest for them, before realising that this process was not quite suitable for women. » In some homosexual male apps [such as Grindr] that is a dependency that is total. It is relevant and important. However for our users it is not appropriate after all. Girls won’t ever carry on a night out together within four hours — these are typically trying to find the next week-end or a bit after. Once you understand another person’s instantly there was interesting but a little creepy.»
As a result, the next form of Dattch provides up proximity information although not Hailo-type monitoring of site here nearby targets. The application focuses in place of which makes it as simple as possible for females to speak with ladies. The profiles had been initially quite sparse, with only photos and incredibly small information, but Exton claims she quickly realised that ladies desired a hook for discussion. What this means is having a bit additional information about their interests. This means profiles that are pinterest-style enable you to produce image boards that demonstrate what type of individual you might be. «So users can have a look at pictures to get a feeling of exactly exactly what anyone is similar to and provide you with enough information to begin a discussion,» Exton describes.
Rather than basing the design on other relationship products, Exton claims she seemed to mags, blog sites, travel sites and fashion internet web sites for motivation. «Things which have historically done a fairly job that is good of to females.»
One challenge that is unexpected has received to deal with is maintaining voyeuristic males away. Each day there are between three and five males attempting to join. Many of them merely state they would like to fulfill some lesbians, while others make use of a fake image and claim they’re bisexual females with the hope, Exton describes, of eventually launching their right «boyfriend» to your mix for the threesome.
Because of this, Dattch insists on verifying users through their Facebook records, checking several different facets to be sure it is a genuine profile. If you don’t possess a Facebook account or do not pass the Facebook verification test, they could join due to their email but must follow up by having a phone skype or call call. «It is ridiculous it seems that a lot of guys don’t understand what being a lesbian means that we have to deal with guys trying to join the platform,» says Exton. «There will always be scammers and spammers, but. You are meant by it can’t stand guys,» she claims. «a whole lot of men and women see that people have actually bisexual girls on the app and think they’ll certainly be up for the threesome, however they aren’t for a lesbian dating app to meet up some guy for a threesome.»
Exton claims she actually is not against producing products for guys as time goes on, but that Dattch is a ladies’ area.
Whenever she is not fretting about maintaining town scammer free, Exton is finding out how exactly to build premium features that are additional in-app acquisitions, but she defintely won’t be drawn into talking about details.