CNBC – Lucy Rout founded Haystack Dating after reaching burnout from years of negative experiences on dating apps. A cancer survivor and former founder of Tabuu, which won investment on BBC's Dragon's Den, Rout decided to focus on creating safe, in-person events where people could meet naturally. Her £30 London events use an algorithm to match attendees based on shared interests and personality traits before bringing them together for group activities such as cricket or touch rugby, followed by an evening of socializing. Haystack's growth has been fueled by Rout's 50K-strong Instagram community, which generated her first sales and continues to spread the word. She met her own boyfriend at an in-person networking event. Now, she is expanding Haystack to Leeds and other U.K. cities.
Curated by the Courtland Brooks team