The future of dating apps in New York won't just be online.
The league — which vets everyone on the app — has launched a series of high-profile events in New York, including the Hamptons and at the US OpenSo that personal events can be made an important part of the service.
“This is the beginning of a hybrid model in our largest market,” Lisa Kraynak, The League’s senior vice president and head of marketing, told The Post. “The future will be a mix of in-person, online and artificial intelligence.”
But he acknowledged that many people are “tired” On appsKraynak said that “it's still the most efficient way to meet someone … if you can combine it with a personal experience, that's the ticket.”
The League bills itself as an exclusive, highly vetted app for smart, career-oriented people — the last stop before heading to a matchmaker, who can charge more than $50,000.
Users can pay anywhere from $300 per month to $25,000 per month for a service that includes a personal consultant who helps create profiles, gives feedback on photos and suggests more matches.
At its opening IRL During an event last month, the league rented out part of Le Bilboquet in the Hamptons, where more than 60 guests, most of them in their 20s and 30s, enjoyed cocktails and canapés.
Lindsay Metselaar, a dating expert whowe met at acme” There were also social media accounts and podcasts to make sure people were connecting, asking icebreakers like, “What would your friends and family think if you went to jail for what you did?”
“Curation is what people are desperate for… the more help you have in dating, the better,” Metsler told the Post. “That’s one of the reasons people are willing to participate [in IRL events] They're really craving more time with people.”
This week, the league sent three couples who met at the Bilboquet event to the US Open,
And Kraynak said they are still finalizing events to be held in the coming months, but there will be regular meet-ups that will be free for all members. “People are clamoring for it,” he said.
Clement Heckley, a 25-year-old financial analyst who attended the Hamptons event, told The Post he hadn’t been on a dating app in about three years because he was too busy — but he went to the event because he still wanted to meet people.
“Dating here is harder than any other city… Online dating platforms like The League can be useful in NYC because it can break down a barrier,” said Heckley, who is from France. “But you shouldn't lose the personal experience.”
Madison Cole, a 29-year-old account manager who estimates she's DMed more than 800 people online, said she's “bored with the apps.”
“It's very tiring,” he told the Post. “I don't like the small talk or the randomness of it — it's a lot of work.”
But she went to the league's event last month because she believes meeting face-to-face can be more effective. “You make more of an effort to socialize with people,” she adds.
The league's efforts have also led to the rise of apps like Bumble, Hinge and Tinder find new ways to deal with the fact that almost half of their users (46%) say their experience on apps has been negative.
earlier this year, The post said On the resurgence of speed-dating among New Yorkers fed up with dating apps.
In the meantime, the apps are still focused on Use of new technology Such as artificial intelligence to help vet potential partners.
Bumble founder Whitney Wolfe Herd has a buzz AI-powered dating assistant Who will chat with other dating assistants to find the best match.
AI dating tools like YourMove and Voler have introduced tools that help users write engaging messages and analyze messages to conclude whether someone is interested in you or not.
While Kraynak said the league is doing a lot in terms of testing and thinking about how to implement AI, he told the Post that ultimately it’s secondary to building a real connection with someone.
“I think artificial intelligence will be part of the puzzle,” Kraynak said. “AI is great for efficiency, but, at the end of the day, it’s about chemistry… you don’t know what’s going on until you know how to do it. [meet] If sparks fly.”
This story is part of NYNext, a new editorial series that highlights New York City's innovation as well as leading personalities across a variety of industries.
