Her (dating app) explained

HER
Developer:Dattch Ltd.
Latest Release Version:6.7.6 (iOS)
Latest Preview Version:3.01.19 (Android)
Operating System:iOS 10, Android 8.0
Genre:Dating & Community

Her is the largest and most popular dating and community app for the lesbian, queer, bisexual and sapphic community. It was designed for women; non-binary people; and transgender people (including trans men and trans women).[1] It is available for iOS and Android.[2] [3]

It was the first app that was designed specifically for women, pioneering the space and creating the first mobile app designed for LGBTQ+ women, non-binary and trans people. It is a free app that has extra services that can be paid for under a premium subscription. Users have the option of purchasing a Gold or Platinum subscription. As of July 2023 HER has approximately 13 million users.[4]

Users can join the app with their phone number, Apple login, Google Auth Facebook account or email address. As of May 2022, the application is available in 114 countries.[5] [6] It is available in English, French, German, Spanish and Japanese.[7]

The app is most famous amongst the LGBTQ+ community for uniquely sapphic features like Pride Pins, better sexuality and gender labelling and a community for identities and interests and event listings.[8]

History

The app was founded by Robyn Exton and launched in September 2013 under the name of Dattch.[9]

It was originally designed after Exton was inspired by the app for gay men Grindr. The idea was "born from Ms Exton's frustration with existing lesbian dating websites and apps, which she didn't think were good enough. She says the market was dominated by "dating sites that were initially created for gay men, and tuned pink for lesbians".[10] After releasing it she learned that women were looking for a different user journey and decided to build the first dating user journey truly designed for women.[10]

In 2015 HER was launched globally to great acclaim from publications such as TechCrunch and Washington Post[11] [12]

Investors

In March 2013, Her (then Dattch) received €40,000 in funding upon joining the start-up incubator Wayra Academy, owned by Telefonica.[13]

In September 2013, the application raised £100,000 from three investors including founder of W3 Ltd, Yannick Pons and Investor & Chairman of YPlan Andy Phillipps.[14]

In March 2014, Dattch received a US$25,000 investment prize after being awarded with Best Design at 2014's LAUNCH Festival.[15]

In March 2015, after $1 million in funding from investors such as Alexis Ohanian, and Garry Tan and Michael Birch from Y Combinator, Dattch was renamed to Her.[16]

Reception

Her has been well received by LGBTQ communities. In ReadWrites article, "Why Queer Women Need Their Own Dating App," Dattch was called "one of its kind" and "the app queer women have been waiting for."[17] Lesbian news portal Autostraddle said, "it is a pleasure seeing technology created with women's needs being considered so carefully."[18]

Cultural references

HER appeared in the Channel 4 documentary, How to Be a Young Billionaire, which televised in the UK in 2015.

HER was featured in Valeria Season 3 episode 2 when Valeria is exploring dating apps for lesbians.

HER was featured on the Tamron Hall show in 2021 with Exton being surprised by a lesbian couple that met on the app and later married.[19]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Dattch- dating and social network for Women of all kind interested in meeting like minded women. HER app is diversely used for all Women for all reasons.. Official Website. 14 March 2014.
  2. Web site: Dattch Lesbian Dating & Lesbian Social Network. iTunes Store. 14 March 2014.
  3. Web site: Dattch - The Lesbian App . Android Apps on Google Play . 2014-07-04.
  4. Web site: 2023-10-28 . This Dating App Is Great For Fostering Connections In The Queer Community . 2024-03-22 . mindbodygreen . en.
  5. News: Hatmaker. Taylor. The queer dating app Her expands with curated community spaces. 6 October 2018. TechCrunch. 31 May 2018.
  6. Web site: Dattch Lesbian Dating & Lesbian Social Network. iTunes Store. 30 August 2014.
  7. Web site: Popular Dating Apps in Japan: A Guide to Digital Dating . 2024-03-22 . Japan Dev . en.
  8. Web site: CEO and Founder of HER Robyn Exton Shares How She Celebrates Pride from Her Corner of the Internet The Mozilla Blog . 2024-03-22 . blog.mozilla.org . en-US.
  9. News: Lomas. Natasha. Dattch, A Pinterest-Inspired Dating App For Gay Women, Closes $160K To Fuel Its UK Beta. 14 March 2014. TechCrunch. 22 September 2013.
  10. News: 2016-05-08 . How Robyn Exton grew popular lesbian dating app Her . 2024-03-22 . BBC News . en-GB.
  11. News: 2021-10-28 . Appy Friday: Her, the dating app just for women . 2024-03-22 . Washington Post . en-US . 0190-8286.
  12. Web site: Crook . Jordan . 2015-07-16 . Her, The Queer Dating App For Women, Goes Live Across The United States . 2024-03-22 . TechCrunch . en-US.
  13. News: O2. Wayra UK selects new start-ups. 14 March 2014. O2 Blog. 28 March 2013.
  14. News: Golburn. James. £100,000 investment for Dattch includes YPlan Chairman. 14 March 2014. Tech City News. 26 September 2013. 14 March 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140314140522/http://techcitynews.com/2013/09/26/100000-investment-for-dattch-by-yplan-chairman/. dead.
  15. Web site: LAUNCH Festival 2014: And the winners are.... LAUNCH blog. 14 March 2014. 14 March 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140314145211/http://blog.launch.co/blog/launch-festival-2014-and-the-winners-are.html. dead.
  16. News: With $1 Million In New Funding, Dattch Lesbian Dating App Rebrands To Her. Crook. Jordan. 18 March 2015. TechCrunch. 18 March 2015.
  17. News: Hatmaker. Taylor. Why Queer Women Need Their Own Dating App. 14 March 2014. Read Write. 3 Mar 2014.
  18. News: Stef. Dattch: New Lady-Dating App That Could Change Everything Launches in US. 14 March 2014. Autostraddle. 28 February 2013.
  19. Web site: This Lesbian Dating App Made Finding Love Easy for Queer Women – Tamron Hall Show . 2024-03-22 . Tamron Hall . en-US.