Hatched, the dating app redefining the swipe by making it less “show me” and more “know me,” is changing the digital dating game by diving deeper into values, attitudes, personality and interests to help users discover more meaningful matches.
The brainchild of two emerging Buckhead entrepreneurs, co-founders Mitchell Alterman and Sam Lukens, and backed by a notable group of angel investors, Hatched user profiles are depicted by an egg still covered by its shell – encouraging users to start meeting others through commonalities and getting to know one another for their personalities. Each time a similarity strikes, a piece of the shell cracks off – ultimately unveiling the photo of, at that point, a person you’ve connected with over interests and character traits, as opposed to physical attraction and typical “type” tendencies.
Whether swiping, scrolling or clicking through, the user flow & criteria for matchmaking in most dating apps consists of surface-level bio details and a slideshow of images. By making users earn the right to learn and see more about their potential match, Hatched creates a level playing field.
Buckhead locals, co-founders Alterman and Lukens, developed the idea of Hatched at Bartaco on Roswell Road last year. They chose Buckhead as their hub because of its centralized location, awesome social, shopping and restaurant scenes, communities of young, interesting people and top-tier school systems for when they start families. Buckhead is their business home, too. Though they currently work from their respective homes, they are on the hunt for full-time office space in the neighborhood, among some of their favorite local spots like Alma Cocina, Three Dollar Café, Kaleidoscope and Yebo.
“Dating app culture is almost completely dictated by appearance,” says Alterman, CEO & cofounder. “We’re creating a new way for users to present themselves and to view others. We’re hoping that Hatched users will continue to learn about themselves while hatching their match. As we like to say at Hatched, get to know somebody before you get to no them!”
Lukens, COO & cofounder, shares, “User interests are changing. People are searching for something more substantive and real. The dating app industry is experiencing rapid growth, yet current offerings are still determined to maintain the status quo. Hatched will relieve users of swiping fatigue and instant picture-based rejection through a new, innovative approach that should make virtual matchmaking more meaningful and effective.”
After download, users will be asked to sign up and pick an egg-shaped icon from a library of options that represents one of their hobbies or interests (i.e. sports egg, shopping egg, etc.). The user will then be matched with other eggs. Those eggs represent potential matches whose photo and bio details will be withheld. Only by answering personality, attitude, core value and lifestyle (PAVL) multiple choice questions that are the same as their match, do users have the opportunity to see parts of their match’s photo and learn more about them. Questions are pulled at random from a database that has been generated by a team of licensed clinical therapists. This new approach will ensure that users’ chat conversations are available and full details and photos are shown only once the match pair has a general understanding of one another. By adding in this element of surprise, it enhances the user experience, making it stimulating and exciting, while ensuring that Hatched helps create a more meaningful - and less superficial - match for each user.
The app will be available across Atlanta only. Learn more at HatchYourMatch.com and follow along at @hatcheddating.