by Taylor Soper on August 14, 2014 at 7:00 am August 17, 2014 at 9:18 am
There clearly was a plethora of on the web dating internet sites and apps in exactly what is becoming a $2 billion market . Match.com. Tinder. Grouper. What About We. OKCupid. Coffee Matches Bagel. Record continues on as well as on.
But Seattle entrepreneur Susie Lee believes there’s space for another one — a unique tool that lets women result in the very first move and takes motivation from Lee’s experience as a respected modern artist that is digital.
Showing up into the App shop this week is Siren, a dating app that offers capacity to women and ditches the notion of “matching” that’s the focus of today’s popular dating services.
“We’ve developed the very first platform that is mobile for unanticipated and constructive flirting,” Lee tells GeekWire.
Lee, who has got levels in molecular biophysics, biochemistry, additional technology training, and ceramics from schools including Yale and Columbia, had been encouraged to construct Siren she defines as “inane and infantile in its intrinsic design. after she pinpointed a few inefficiencies into the internet dating market — which”
“On all internet dating sites, there clearly was discomfort that is immediate like females had been pinned meetme desktop bugs under a limelight,” explained Lee. The seemingly endless вЂchoices’ felt like eating a giant box of cereal where you’re not sated, but you’ve gotten tired of eating“At the same time. None associated with the web sites included the serendipity or discovery that is peripheral have been main to fulfilling the last guys in my own life.”
Here’s exactly how Siren works. A user’s profile is produced with time through reactions to day-to-day questions and video challenges (created by regional social icons and companies) made to expose characteristics of each and every individual. Lee calls them “conversation beginners” which can be fun to response. For example “what’s a hidden treasure in Seattle?” or, “what did you desire to be once you had been a young child?”
“You are highlighting the most effective component of your self with authenticity,” Lee stated.
While men and women compile their pages when you look at the same manner, just females are permitted to result in the very first move if they are enthusiastic about another individual. Thus giving a female control over her exposure and keeps a certain amount of security because, as Lee places it, “if ladies don’t feel safe, they’re perhaps not planning to hang in there in that area.”
Another aspect that is unique of: ladies can elicit a “Siren Call,” which creates notifications to a choose band of males that are up to generally meet when you look at the minute.
Utilizing the method profiles are designed naturally, and exactly how the effectiveness of matching is provided to females, Siren centers around two principal themes: Fun and security.
“We’ve created an area for the community to feel safe opening to find out the spontaneous charm of other people that produces us smile,” Lee stated.
When Lee describes Siren’s philosophy, a real-life is used by her party analogy to compare the software to her competition. Internet sites like Match.com, she states, are just like parties that need a 10-page meeting type to be finished before you also arrive.
“And then your host would inform you you another 3-page form to fill out,” Lee added that you’re only allowed to talk to six people, who would then give.
Then there’s the new crop of “hot or perhaps not” apps like Tinder that allow users accept prospective matches by taking a look at a few images. Lee stated these websites are like judging possible invitees of a celebration in your sweats, with little opportunity you’re planning to get from the settee, replace your garments, and actually attend the big event.
Just what exactly is Siren like, in contrast?
“Siren could be the celebration in which you’ve responded to an invite it’s in a beautiful space,” Lee said that you’re looking forward to, and. “You enter to get a chance to review the environmental surroundings, then sooner or later, some one mentions he just read an item by Alice Munro, and you also love Alice Munro, after which he quips that 22 moments is mostly about exactly how much time they can concentrate on reading nowadays, helping to make you laugh. And there’s a charge into the space filled up with all of this civilized flirting.”
Siren had been built by five employees therefore the ongoing business has raised $410,000. Intends to reel in income include a sponsored “Question associated with Day,” and in-app purchases, along with a membership system.
The application is free to download, but need that is you’ll invite code that one can request from Lee at susie@siren.mobi. an Android variation is defined to debut in October, and plans come in the works well with a version that may address the LGBTQ audience since well.
Are a member, help independent journalism!
GeekWire members help independent journalism at a time when trusted storytelling and community engagement is much more crucial than in the past.
GeekWire Newsletters
Sign up to GeekWire’s free newsletters to get every headline
Forward Us A Suggestion
Have actually a scoop which you’d like GeekWire to pay for? Tell us.