As we are now a few weeks following launch, I wanted to take some time to tell you a little bit more about REDDI. Firstly, you maybe surprise to hear we are not a dating app!
As a Founder, defining what you are doing - whilst remaining agile - is often something I can struggle with. Now, don't get me wrong: I know fundamentally what REDDI is, why REDDI exists, who it is for, and where we are going, BUT..... it is also important for me to listen, to be flexible, and to recognise that I don't know it all - I need to listen. And then I need to deliver.
If you have read any of my previous posts, you'll know that REDDI is a massive passion project for me above anything else. Born out of my own frustrations; a disappointment and general fatigue for current offerings, to the point that I felt compelled to do something about it.
I've been on dating apps since the day they began to exist - although thinking about the development of the 'dating industry', I recall reading out the 'personal ads' in the local newspaper with amusement. Of course, there wasn't the 'mobile phone' when I first started dating (yes, I am that old!) - so everything was very old school. I miss those days. But, I recognise that the mobile is here to stay, as is online dating - therefore, how can we (or how can I) make it better for the many - and not the few.
I have definitely had my fair share of fun out of dating apps, but the issue is that there is no happy medium between the hookup/casual type of user and the person who is looking to settle down and have a family - without a significant amount of time investment. Time that many of us don't actually have.
Most mainstream apps have an enormous number of users - giving you access to more people than you'd probably meet in your lifetime offline. You'd think this would be a good thing - but it's not - it means everyone's intentions are mixed up together; there is always someone else to chat with, and the levels of respect for one another is questionable. Sometimes, I feel like dating is like allowing a Twitter troll into your life by conscious choice.
BUT let's be clear - REDDI isn't a dating app. We'll leave the big boys to try to find you a 'date'.
REDDI is a serious, no-nonsense curated community for genuine like-minded who want families to meet and create great relationships. REDDI values well-rounded, open, and honest people. People who are ambitious, smart, and dream big when it comes to their personal and professional lives – the kind who can make you laugh, but also think deep. We don't want people to get all anxious about having to tell people their 'intentions', or to make themselves smaller due to the fact they have 'matched' with someone who isn't on the same page. We aim to put the ‘serious’ people out there, who are emotionally and mentally in the same place, all on the same cool members platform. No need to declare or shout about what you want - it's simply a given.
Now, you may be fooled into thinking that REDDI is all about making babies - not romantic connections. Or, you maybe thinking it is only for those who want a romantic connection - but you'd assume wrong. So, let me break down who REDDI is for, as it may be just the app for you.
1. Singles - Looking for romance and children in the future
This is you, if you have ever thought that you'd like to have kids. You probably don't want them now, but you also wouldn't mind if the next relationship you had was the BIG one. In fact, you're probably on the apps - but finding that your connections are all superficial - you become disengaged quickly, and move on. You may even use the likes of Tinder when you are bored, in need of some form of validation, or when you just want sex. They maybe serve some sort of purpose, but you are seeking something more - and you are looking to turn the page in your single life, so would like to meet people who are on that same page.
2. Singles - Looking for romance and would like children soon
So, it may be that you are a little older and as a woman, you may feel that you're running out of time. Or, you may just want kids sooner, rather than later. This isn't a taboo subject, and many people feel the same. It's helpful to be on an app which makes intentions clear from the start; you don't have time to waste and hardball dating is what it's all about for you.
It maybe that the time is just right for you, that you'd like to have a family and you'd like to start a relationship with someone who feels the same way. Again, this is okay - there are many like-minded folk just like you.
3. Platonic Co-parenting
Thanks to modern science and equal rights, over recent years we have seen an increase in the diverse ways to start a family – from egg and sperm donation, to platonic co-parenting.
Platonic co-parenting, is when two people make the decision to have a child together, without being romantically involved. In fact, in most cases, those involved also choose not to live together. For many, platonic co-parenting will be a relatively new phenomenon - however, the concept is well-established among LGBTQ+ communities.
REDDI not only hopes to bring platonic co-parenting into the mainstream, but also provide people of all sexualities with more options, should they wish to have a family.
4. Singles - Who don't have children but want to be part of a family
Just because you don't have children, doesn't mean you don't want to be part of a family. There are many reasons people do not, or are unable to have their own children, and trailing through dating sites which don't allow for you to search for people who have them already and don't want more can be quite stressful. It can also be hard trying to explain your circumstance; you may even feel that you are judged on other sites. We simply aim to provide you with a no-nonsense platform to meet those who have the same ideas for the future as you do.
5. Single Parents - Looking for other single parents, or a serious relationship