FEMALEFIRST.CO.UK – July 23 – Didier Rappaport co-founded Dailymotion and turned the video-sharing platform into a multi-million-pound success story. He then set his sights on dating and launched dating app Happn.
Q: Explain the ethos behind Happn.
A: We decided to create Happn because we felt that dating apps were too virtual. Our mission was to bring the real world into the dating space. The question is, why should we go online to meet new people when we cross paths with so many people every day. The answer for us was to develop the model that became Happn.
Q: So if you saw someone for a fleeting moment and wish you spoke to them, Happn might allow you to grab back that moment?
A: Precisely. We want to give people a chance to develop relationships with people who they may have met briefly or who they saw earlier on in their day. The idea is to go out with people who are around you already and who you don't need to go and search for.
Q: Has the attitude changed towards people using dating apps now?
A: Absolutely. This is now the normal way to meet people.
Q: What is the next big development in dating apps?
A: Video, video and more video. At this moment, too much of the focus is on the appearance of the person in their profile image. We need to allow people to hear the voice, to see the mannerisms and understand the person better. Video will be the next big enhancement to our service.
Q: What has surprised you about this successful venture into the dating business?
A: India was a huge experiment for us. Well, we are now the No.1 dating app in India and have double the amount of people than Tinder in that region. It shows that Happn can be a success everywhere in the world.
by Kevin Palmer
See full article at FemaleFirst.co.uk
See all posts on Happn
FAST COMPANY – July 24 – Alex Williamson, Bumble's chief brand officer, helped create the voice of the dating and networking app. She reveals her best advice for how to successfully brand your company.
