At times, online dating falls short of expectations, but Hatched aims to shake things up with its distinctive gamified user experience. Departing from the norm of profile pictures, this dating app presents potential matches in the form of eggs. The only way to unveil their appearance is by responding to personality-driven questions, gradually revealing the person inside the shell.
In a recent update, Hatched introduced a new in-app currency called “Yolks,” providing access to premium features such as the ability to “super hatch” or super-like a match.
Excitingly, Hatched is expanding its reach to the East Coast, with a gradual rollout planned for Virginia, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Boston, and Pennsylvania starting next month. The app has recently been introduced in Florida, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, Kentucky, and Mississippi.
The concept of blind dating isn’t novel, and major players like Tinder and Bumble have already embraced it. However, Hatched goes beyond the typical opening line dilemma by offering questions that uncover character similarities, aiming to foster a deeper connection.
When a user taps on a match, Hatched presents a question with two possible answers. Matching responses result in the gradual unveiling of the person’s selfie, akin to an egg cracking open layer by layer. Different responses are indicated by a flashing red egg, signaling potential incompatibility. The “Egg On” option allows users to attempt another question, provided both parties select it.
The app also reveals parts of users’ profiles based on shared responses, including age, bio, hobbies, occupation, prompts, and “adjeggtives” or adjectives. Completing a profile requires four identical responses.
Questions, developed by a team of therapists, address core values, interests, and character traits. With 500 questions in the database, updates occur every other month, ensuring the app evolves with its growing user base.
Matches are organized in the “Egg Carton,” tracking the hatching progress from “Goose Eggs” at 0% to “Fully Hatched” at 100%. Hatched provides six daily matches, but the new Yolks feature allows users to purchase additional matches or access premium features through various Yolks bundles.
Hatched’s future plans include a subscription model, integrating in-app purchases and additional features like read receipts, alcohol use filters, political filters, and other match preferences. The app is also working on a selfie verification system in collaboration with moderation partners.
Launched on Valentine’s Day this year, Hatched boasts 10,000 monthly active users with a 30% month-over-month growth rate. The company secured $1 million in pre-seed funding from angel investors, including an executive from the Atlanta Hawks. The app is available for download in select cities on the Apple Store and Google Play Store.
