5mo ago

I Submitted My 1st Solo-Developed, Pi-Themed Dating App Today! AMA & Happy Pi Day!

Dating apps have become enshittified and is why they are so ineffective. However, there is a huge opportunity for improvement. The core hypothesis my app is: a pay-per-mutual-match model that aligns user and app incentives. The mutual financial investment also makes users more likely to engage once they match.

My app doesn’t rely on complex algorithms or AI for matchmaking, as they perpetuate biases. Instead, I use a transparent system where users fill out a detailed questionnaire, and I match them based on their answers using SQL queries.

The app is built with open source software (Docker, Django, Flutter, and more!), so no vendor lock-in. This is the first app I ever made so it has been an incredible learning experience.

Ask me anything about my app, Qtpi, my tech stack, or my journey!

22 comments

The pay-per-match model is (afaik) unique, how do you plan on dealing with troll users? Can users refund the match if they matched with a troll?
- Thank you for your question! It is a good one.
  I will have to think about it. I feel like there will be few troll accounts because they have to pay. There may be bot accounts though. In that case, I would aim to have the user report the bot or advertisement account. Then I would refund the user. I would keep the money from the bot account and ban the bot account. This adds significant friction to bot and scam accounts.
  
  Troll was a poor choice of word, but there is lots of antisocial behaviors that a user would be disappointed with having to pay for. I.e: dick pic, ghosting, cat fishing etc.
  Refunding does sound like a reasonable answer though, so at least you've thought about it. Good luck!
If you didn't use QT at the UI framework that's a huge miss.
- I didn’t use QT! You’re right, it would have been good from a naming perspective. This is my first app though so I am not familiar with all the possible cross platform frameworks. I mainly hear about React Native, Flutter, or Kotlin Multiplatform. I was predominantly looking into mobile development because most people are on mobile. I’ll keep it in mind for the future though! Thanks for letting me know about it.
Interesting. Dating apps are garbage for pretty well understood reasons.
What is your pricing? Do I pay only on mutual like or if I make the first move?
How are you going to get users? Users are notoriously ... what's a nicer word than stupid... about platforms. Look at how many people stick to Twitter and tinder even though they hate them, "but that's where people are!"
- Thank you for the questions!
  I’m thinking of pricing a mutual match at around $1.00 - $2.50 since the “super likes” (which are consumed whether you match or not) of the mainstream dating apps are around $1.50 - $5.00. I plan to give each user 3 free matches.
  Both users pay to match. Both users should be invested in the match and it will encourage them to actually engage.
  I am going to try to demo my app at my Alma Mater and start there. I’m trying to start geographically dense. I think this will be the most challenging part. But perhaps if people are fed up and desperate enough they will be willing to try.
  
  Run this flow by me?
  I load up the app. I see an attractive person. I hit "like". Do I pay now? Or do I only pay if they also like, so there's an extra step of "you both hit like but didn't pay"?
  Does the other person get notified when I hit like?
  I think Tinder started by going to college campuses, finding who was hot and popular, and paying for them to throw parties. Anyone who went was told to install the app.
  I'm in NYC. I can get a date a week on the apps, but the quality varies. And like I just got ghosted twice this month. There's room for improvement.

22 comments