Technology should increase human agency.
Not dependency.
Not division.
Not distraction.
That’s the future we’re trying to build.
Proud to finally share another piece of it (ft @BotCupid)
dataing V2 is officially live on iOS + web 💘🍾
Built by a small bootstrapped team with one mission:
Use AI to support human relationships, not replace them.
Cupid turns every spark into signal by helping people use their own data to understand themselves, their matches, and the connections worth exploring.
More agency. More clarity. Better relationships.
i was talking with a friend about why dating feels so much worse than it did 5-10 years ago.
i don’t think it’s because men or women changed.
i think it’s because the internet gave everyone the illusion of unlimited options.
when you believe there’s always someone hotter, richer, funnier, or more exciting around the corner, you stop investing in the person in front of you.
that’s a brutal way to build relationships
The American empire is collapsing. Take a close look around you.
-The average American can’t afford to live.
-The top 1% continues accumulating more wealth while everyone else falls further behind.
-Dating has become impossible.
-Your social media feeds are plastered with AI slop and shit to desensitize you and demotivate you.
-Data centers are being built nationwide.
-Political instability is at the highest it’s ever been.
-The job market is ceasing to exist.
-Empires never make it past the 250-year mark.
-The birth rate is collapsing at rates never seen before.
-The younger generation is the most depressed and least sexually active generation.
It’s over
Google is shutting down GIF provider Tenor’s public API at some point today, June 30th.
Apps that rely on the public API to source GIFs will lose direct access to Tenor’s library.
Utility and culture two sides of the same coin.
Can CT really thrive on just one, or do we need both to keep the space balanced?
Last episode, @Olaniran_btc, @GPSC_STX, and @MarkKilaghbian shared their perspectives on the culture vs. utility debate.
This week, we're also joined by the $Zest crew to explore how they're bringing culture and utility together for Bitcoiners.
Link below 👇
Dataing wasn’t funded by massive VC rounds.
At one point, part of the funding came from @MarkKilaghbian selling @Yugioh cards.
Oddly enough, I think that helped us build better technology.
When you’re bootstrapped, inefficiency can kill you.
You’re forced to optimize.
Forced to listen.
Forced to build things users actually want.
A lot of VC-backed consumer apps end up with misaligned incentives: maximize engagement, maximize retention, maximize revenue for the LP's at the expense of users.
Not to mention a lot of flaws get covered up by throwing money at the problem.
We’ve worked hard to keep our incentives aligned with users while building an efficient, empathetic product we genuinely believe is best-in-class.
"You guys have complained about our names in the past, so we really put some thought into it this time
Our new models are named Sol, Luna and Terra - after the cryptocurrencies that vaporized 100 Billion dollars"
I genuinely live one of the most interesting lives of my generation.
1. Performed comedy in front of 15,000 people.
2. Moved to NYC to disrupt the livestream industry.
3. Assaulted by ex business partner.
4. Raised nearly $1M for my startup.
5. Delivered food on foot to help fund my startup.
6. Kissed a man for investor funds.
What's next for us?