TECH.EU – Taimi and Hily are profitable, self-funded dating apps built primarily for Gen Z. Taimi focuses on the LGBTQ+ market and has ~350K daily active users. Its goal is 2M daily users as it works toward becoming IPO-ready. Both apps were launched in 2017 without external investment. Taimi has ~100 employees and is focused heavily on the US market. The company says its numbers do not support claims that Gen Z is moving away from dating apps. Its research also found that 57% of LGBTQ+ adults say dating apps reduce the burden of repeatedly coming out.
BIANET – An İstanbul court has ordered an access block on several LGBTI+ dating apps. The banned apps are HeeSay, Taimi, SCRUFF, Jack’d, Surge, ROMEO, BEARWW, Shuggr, and Daddyhunt. During the 2026 Pride Month, authorities also blocked access to X accounts of many LGBTI+ groups.
DOU – Taimi, created by Ukrainian company appflame, is an LGBTQ+ dating app with ~31M users and a top-ten spot in US downloads. Available in 100 countries, it stands out by focusing on user experience instead of pushing aggressive monetization. The app runs on a freemium model with subscriptions and optional features. New members typically find a match within minutes, start conversations quickly, and are encouraged to take those connections offline. To boost engagement, Taimi has rolled out features like First Move, which lets users pre-set their opening message, and Taimi In Person, a program for LGBTQ+ community events that has already held ~30 gatherings in the US. Safety is a core part of the product: all protective features are free, from Face ID login and profile verification to stealth mode and 24/7 moderation. The company is currently focused on scaling in the US, backed by new cross-functional product teams and a Head of Product hired from New York with experience at Grindr and HBO Max. Brand-building has also become a major focus, with Taimi appearing in Netflix and Amazon Prime series, a Katy Perry music video, and on screens at Doja Cat concerts. In 2025, downloads climbed 32% YOY, and organic social reach jumped to 52M views. Taimi plans to expand further in Europe while cementing its role as a trusted platform for the global LGBTQ+ community.
HYPEBAE – Taimi's latest feature allows polyamorous users to "customize their profiles by selecting their preferred romance type, whether they are polyamorous individuals, are part of a polycule or couple." Ethical non-monogamy has grown in popularity since 2020, with Gen Z contemplating the lifestyle more than generations before them. "Research shows that ~4-5% of Americans are involved in consensual non-monogamy, and these numbers are steadily rising."
THE NEXT WEB – Alex Pasykov, CEO and founder of dating apps Hily and Taimi, discusses the challenges faced by startups in the dating app industry in 2023 and the importance of aligning product strategy with trends to build a sustainable business. While generative AI has limited applications in dating apps, it can be used to improve algorithms and provide efficient customer support. Pasykov highlights the trend of greater segmentation and personalization in dating apps, with apps catering to specific audiences and dating interests. However, extremely niche apps may struggle to raise funding due to a limited user base. Pasykov emphasizes the need for dating apps to focus on shortening the time between initial interest and in-person meetings. Niche apps that excel in serving specific audiences can set the standard for service quality and accelerate business growth. By understanding the complexities of online dating and adapting to evolving user preferences, dating apps can increase their chances of success.
TECH.EU – Alex Pasykov, CEO of the Hily dating app and LGBTQ platform Taimi, reflects on a difficult but rewarding year, operating his businesses in Ukraine during the Russian invasion. Despite the challenges of scaling a business during wartime, Pasykov learned the importance of setting ambitious goals, trying new things, and providing his team with comfortable working conditions. His team's ability to work creatively without electricity during blackouts demonstrated their resilience and teamwork. Pasykov and his team also volunteered in the community, providing supplies and support to those affected by the war. Pasykov encourages businesses to always have a plan for the worst-case scenario, as there are many potential threats to any business.
OPW – Alex Pasykov is Founder/CEO of Hily & Taimi, and is Ukrainian. I think he says it best (and recommends two impactful charities) in his post on Linkedin w/respect to the pure terror happening in Ukraine right now.
ELLENTUBE – June 3 – In honor of Pride Month, Taimi partnered with The Ellen DeGeneres Show and donated $25K to The Trevor Project, an organization close to Ellen’s heart.
TAIMI – Apr 28 – In 2020, Taimi Talks, an in-app livestreaming event, featured true LGBTQ+ icons like Blair Amadeus Imani, Monique Heart, Alyssa Edwards, TS Madison, Jason Wimberly and Chris Mosier. This year, Taimi Talks will have an incredible line-up of people. The event will be in May 16, 5PM EST.
FORBES – Apr 20 – Aleksandr Pasykov is the founder of Hily Dating App and Taimi, the biggest LGBTQ+ platform featuring a social network and dating app. He started working on Taimi in 2017. "We realized there's a demand for a safe online space where LGBTQ+ people could build relationships. We needed a framework that would allow us to create the app from scratch in a short time, and our developer built the app in less than two months using React Native." React Native is an open-source app framework that was released by Facebook in 2015. It allows developers to combine native code with React, making it perfect for updating existing applications. React Native offer unprecedented speed and efficiency, and you can create and update apps on Android and iOS simultaneously. One issue is the framework’s performance. For example, if you want to add a newsfeed to your app, React Native may not have high enough speed and performance levels, so such changes will have to be made in native code. Another challenge companies may face is the lack of React Native experts.
