In this episode of the GDI Podcast, host Bill Alaina sits down with Lavina Lim, Product Manager at Feeld, to explore how the app is redefining dating through curiosity, fluidity, and self-discovery. Lavina shares Feeld’s origin story and explains how the platform was built to challenge heteronormative, destination-focused dating models in favour of more open, exploratory approaches to connection. The conversation dives into how Feeld designs for non-linear dating journeys, supporting singles, couples, and ethically non-monogamous communities alike. Lavina outlines how product features such as flexible identity expression, browsing without forced decisions, group chats, and linked profiles reflect the realities of modern relationship dynamics and the growing demand for community-driven experiences

n this episode of the GDI Podcast, host Mark Brooks sits down with Emma Sayle, the powerhouse founder & CEO behind Killing Kittens and WAX, to unpack how a rebellious idea from a frustrated 26-year-old became a global movement empowering women, redefining intimacy, and reshaping the future of sex-positive communities. Emma shares the unfiltered founding story of Killing Kittens, how its unapologetic ethos grew into worldwide events, a thriving digital ecosystem, KK Cruises & Retreats, and now the fast-growing WAX platform—home to verified members, community-driven groups, workshops, dating, and even built-in sexual health features. She also reveals: ✨ The wild origin behind the “Killing Kittens” name ✨ Why WAX became the brand members named themselves ✨ How KK built safety tech like SafeDate ✨ The strategy powering WAX’s rapid growth in the UK & US ✨ A bold future vision—from ad-tech to global expansion to even a KK Hotel

In this episode of the GDI Podcast, host Mark Brooks (CEO, Courtland Brooks) sits down with Ikuho Nakahata, Head of Marketing at Tapple, one of Japan’s largest and most influential dating apps. Ikuho offers an insider’s look into the Japanese online dating market—its unique dynamics, user behavior, government involvement, and how modern dating apps in Japan are evolving to meet shifting societal expectations. Ikuho shares the story of Tapple, now a 20-million-user strong platform centered around shared interests, and explains how its simple, swipe-based UI and trust-focused features helped it overcome the lingering negative perception of “deaikei” services from Japan’s past. The conversation also dives into competitors such as Pairs and with, and how TAPL positions itself as the more casual, youth-oriented option in a mature, highly competitive market. Ikuho then reveals details about Coigram, TAPL’s new free-to-use, MBTI-style personality-matching dating app designed to lower barriers for men and women and bring a fresh, shareable UX to Japanese dating.

In the latest episode of the GDI Podcast, Mark Brooks, CEO of Courtland Brooks, speaks with David Vermeulen, co-founder and CEO of Inner Circle, about the brand’s curated approach to dating, its explosive growth in Latin America, and its vision for 2027. Vermeulen shares the origins of Inner Circle, which began as a response to the impersonal and time-consuming nature of early online dating. His mission was clear: to create a community for like-minded singles focused on quality connections and meaningful interactions. The conversation also touches on Inner Circle’s “Date Conscious Suite,” an initiative to promote respectful behaviour and reduce ghosting. Vermeulen emphasizes that users are expected to act online as they would offline — with manners and accountability. Misconduct is swiftly addressed, maintaining the platform’s high trust levels and offline-oriented ethos. Looking ahead, Vermeulen envisions Inner Circle evolving into a community-driven lifestyle platform, helping people not only find love but also connect through shared experiences. As he puts it, “We bring people together and change the course of their lives.”

In this week's episode, we speak with Maxime Barbier, founder and CEO of TimeLeft. The fast-growing social dining platform is bringing strangers together for shared experiences around the world. Launched in 2020, TimeLeft has evolved through four major pivots before finding its winning formula: small-group dinners in cities worldwide. Today, the subscription-based service operates in 250+ cities across 50+ countries, matching groups of six for midweek restaurant meetups, with new formats including women-only nights, bar meetups, and even group runs. Barbier shares the lessons learned from his early career as a nightclub promoter, through building social media brands, to creating a platform designed to fight loneliness by fostering in-person connections. TimeLeft deliberately avoids the trappings of dating apps—no profile pictures, minimal preconceptions—to focus on authentic interactions and friendships, though romance sometimes blossoms. The company’s matching algorithm uses personality testing, language preferences, budget, and group balance to create engaging, comfortable evenings for its 3 million users. With word-of-mouth growth fuelled by media interest in combating loneliness, TimeLeft has become a leader in the emerging “IRL tech” space. Looking ahead, Barbier envisions TimeLeft not only helping people meet new friends but also strengthening existing friendships—potentially using AI to prompt and arrange meetups. For him, the mission is clear: use technology to create more meaningful moments in the limited “time left” we all have.

Mark Rollings, Co-Founder at Paranormal Date by The GDI & Social Discovery Podcast

Marco van der Woude, Breeze App by The GDI & Social Discovery Podcast

Adam Cohen-Aslatei, CEO of Three Day Rule by The GDI & Social Discovery Podcast

Richa Rival, CEO and Founder of Walnut App by The GDI & Social Discovery Podcast

Eventful is a dating app focused on facilitating offline dating experiences to combat user burnout from traditional apps. In this episode, Tegan discussed Eventful's matching process based on shared interests and date activity suggestions. She also goes into detail about the company's origin, approach to dating and event booking and focus on mental well-being. Tegan also talks about the evolution of dating apps, the current status of a London launch and future vision.

Violet Lim, CEO of Lunch Actually by The GDI & Social Discovery Podcast

In this episode,

Pieter Reuse, Founder of BeeDee by The GDI & Social Discovery Podcast

In this episode, Ethan talks to industry consultant Bill Alena to discuss his innovative approach to dating apps, focusing exclusively on the 18-28 demographic and creating a vibrant, music-driven user experience. Ethan shared how his own experiences, combined with those of his friends, led him to realize that the current dating landscape wasn’t truly meeting the needs of younger users. While apps like TikTok were capturing gen Z’s attention with energetic, engaging content, dating apps felt outdated and lacked excitement.

Brownie Marie, Founder of Fox Hunters Club by The GDI & Social Discovery Podcast

Hari Gopal - Founder, Hearts Dating by The GDI & Social Discovery Podcast

Alexandra Beaumont, CEO of Once, Social Discovery Group by The GDI & Social Discovery Podcast

In this episode, Christof introduces us to Hornet, the fun, go-to app for fun, engaging chat with gay men. We hear about the background behind setting up the platform, which has more than 100 million users across the globe, and what key market trends Christof is seeing in the market.

UrbanMatch was founded with a bold vision: to redefine how the South Asian diaspora connects and forges meaningful romantic relationships. In this episiode, Aryavrat shares the company's story and how it has grown into a thriving community and become a matchmaking platform tailored to South Asians living abroad.

In this episode. Ankit introduces us to Flamme - the dating app for couples who feel disconnected due to busy work schedules or long distance, helping them connect better with gamified healthy habits and an AI coach. He shares his thoughts on what he is seeing in the online dating and matchmaking market, what advice he would give to those in the industry and how he sees it playing out in 2025.