Post by @theventure

This guy built a dating app that's harder to get into than Harvard 💘💰 In 2014, Daniel Gendelman's startup completely flops, so he flies home to reset. Scrolling through dating apps one night, something clicks: celebrities aren't on Tinder, and not because they don't want to date, but because they're embarrassed to be seen there. So instead of making dating easier, Daniel makes it harder. He builds Raya, where a secret committee of 500 members votes on every single application and only 8% of applicants get approved. ✓ Turns the rejection itself into the product ✓ Makes it nearly impossible to join, so suddenly every celebrity in LA wants in ✓ Launches in 2015 with his own social circle, no ads and no press ✓ Pulls in the likes of Ben Affleck, Demi Lovato, Channing Tatum, and Olivia Rodrigo Startup flops → notices celebrities hide from Tinder → makes the app harder, not easier → rejection becomes the draw → everyone wants in → 2.5 million on the waitlist. Sometimes making something harder to get is exactly what makes everyone want it. What would you make exclusive on purpose if being hard to get was the whole appeal? 🤔 #Business #Raya #DatingApps #Success #Entrepreneur