WALL STREET JOURNAL – Raya, the invite-only dating app launched in 2015, is known for its exclusivity: it has a 2.5M–person waitlist, accepts only a small percentage of applicants, and has a user base in the low six figures. Membership costs $24.99 a month, with one-fifth paying $49.99 for the premium Raya+ tier. The company says revenue has grown 50% annually for five years and it became profitable in 2021. About 40% of users are Gen Z, making it the app’s fastest-growing group. Raya enforces strict privacy rules, appeals to celebrities and creatives, and relies heavily on referrals from existing members. Despite talk of networking, 85-90% of activity is dating. Founder Daniel Gendelman has also launched Places, a $39.99-per-year travel and dining guide with over 83K listings, as part of Raya’s expansion beyond dating.
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