Raya
Raya is a members-only mobile dating and networking app, launched in 2015 and based in Los Angeles, serving vetted creatives, founders, and other high-profile individuals through a curated, referral-driven application process and a $25–$50 monthly subscription.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersLos Angeles, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Raya does
Raya App, Inc. operates a members-only mobile dating and networking application launched in 2015 and headquartered in Los Angeles. The product is positioned less as a mainstream dating app and more as a curated private community for creatives, founders, athletes, musicians, influencers, and other well-connected individuals, with networking, friendship, and in-person events folded into the same mobile experience. Access is gated by a non-transparent application and waitlist process; the membership committee weighs an applicant's real-world connection to existing members, Instagram profile (accessed via Instagram's API for verification), and city popularity. The company reports approximately 2.5 million people on the waiting list and around 100,000 new applications per month, with approval times ranging from about 10 days to several years.
On the technology side, Raya runs as a mobile application on iOS and Android, with a Node.js and TypeScript front end backed by Golang services. Core platform capabilities include Instagram-mediated identity verification, location-based discovery with user-controlled toggles, "hide" and "paused" account states, a no-screenshot / no-read-receipt privacy posture, and backend matching and recommendation systems. Payments are processed through Apple StoreKit and Stripe, and the app uses Google Analytics for product analytics. The company has 101–250 employees and is led by founder Daniel Gendelman, with a leadership team that includes COO Matt Kissner, VP of Product Joshua Feldman, and Director of Engineering Andrew Hitti.
The business model is a recurring consumer subscription: standard membership is priced at $25 per month and a premium tier at $50 per month, with in-app purchases billed through Apple and auto-renewing until canceled. Raya does not disclose revenue, has no recorded institutional funding rounds, and appears to operate as a bootstrapped, founder-controlled private company under Delaware law. Distribution is exclusively through the Apple App Store and Google Play, and go-to-market is community-led: organic word-of-mouth, member referrals, and earned media around high-profile users substitute for any paid marketing.
Raya firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Raya
- Legal name
- Raya App, Inc.
- Website
- https://rayatheapp.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Raya is a members-only mobile dating and networking app, launched in 2015 and based in Los Angeles, serving vetted creatives, founders, and other high-profile individuals through a curated, referral-driven application process and a $25–$50 monthly subscription.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Raya industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Online Dating & Social Networking
- akta.pro primary industry
- Dating & Relationship Networking (MPACAJAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Dating & Relationship Networks (BPAMABAF)
Keywords
Where Raya is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Angeles
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Raya business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Standard Membership Subscription: Monthly subscription fee of $25 for standard membership, providing access to the exclusive dating and networking platform with vetted user base and enhanced privacy protections
- Premium Membership Subscription: Premium tier subscription at $50 per month offering additional features beyond standard membership
- In-App Purchases: Users have ability to make in-app purchases paid via Apple account; payments automatically renew until canceled
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Standard membership at $25/month |
| Subscription | Monthly | Premium membership at $50/month |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
Raya product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Raya is a membership-based mobile application for dating, networking, and discovery among creatives, founders, and well-connected individuals. Prospective users must complete an application that is reviewed by an internal membership committee using factors such as Instagram presence, referrals from existing members, and city popularity before being admitted. Approved users pay a monthly subscription ($25 standard, $50 premium) for access to a vetted community with strict privacy protections including a no-screenshot policy and no read receipts.
Product overview
Raya is a single-product, membership-based mobile application launched in 2015. The app operates as a private community for dating, networking, and friendship, exclusively available through a paid membership subscription ($25/month standard or $50/month premium). The core product is the Raya mobile app, which features a swipe-based interface similar to other dating apps but with stricter privacy rules, a non-transparent application/waitlist process, and membership heavily dependent on referrals, Instagram presence, and city popularity. The company also provides an optional Events feature for RSVPs and in-person interactions, but this is integrated within the same app rather than a separate product.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Raya Mobile App A membership-based mobile application for dating, networking, and discovery among creatives, founders, athletes, and well-connected professionals. Access is gated by an application reviewed by an internal membership committee; accepted members pay $25/month (standard) or $50/month (premium) for a vetted community with privacy protections including no read receipts, a no-screenshot policy, hide/paused profile modes, and toggleable location and social mode. The app also supports RSVPs to in-person events as part of the same product.
Quantifiable outcome
- Exclusive dating app trend shows shift towards high-end platforms emphasizing quality and exclusivity over mainstream apps experiencing decline
Companies that use Raya
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Raya technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Feature6 records
Raya partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- GIZminorRaya launched the final round of its FutureTECH Accelerator in partnership with GIZ, suggesting involvement in startup/tech ecosystem development initiatives
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Raya competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- The League: The League is a selective dating and networking app requiring LinkedIn-based vetting and admission, targeting ambitious professionals. Directly comparable to Raya in exclusivity model, vetted admission, and professional user base, though it leans more on career credentials than creative/Instagram presence.
- Inner Circle: Inner Circle is a selective dating app that curates members through an application process and hosts members-only events globally. Closely mirrors Raya's combination of vetted membership, premium positioning, and real-world event activation.
- Thursday: Thursday is a selective dating app designed around a single day of matching per week, limiting user attention to a focused window. Comparable to Raya in targeting intentional daters rather than volume users, though differentiated by its weekday-only model.
- Luxy: Luxy is a self-described 'millionaire dating' app that vets users for income or attractiveness and targets affluent singles. Comparable to Raya in exclusivity positioning and selective admission, though differentiated by a wealth-oriented value proposition.
- Millionaire Match: Millionaire Match is a long-running dating platform focused on wealthy and successful individuals, with a verification process for high-net-worth users. Overlaps with Raya on affluent-user targeting and selective admission, though it operates on a more traditional dating-site model.
Broad incumbents
- Hinge: Hinge is a mainstream dating app owned by Match Group that has repositioned as a 'designed to be deleted' relationship-focused platform. It serves as a broad incumbent alternative as it has moved upmarket into the serious-relationship segment Raya targets.
- Tinder: Tinder is the largest mainstream dating app, owned by Match Group. While targeting opposite ends of the exclusivity spectrum, both rely on swipe mechanics, mobile subscriptions, and similar paid-tier structures, making Tinder a reference for engagement and monetization benchmarks.
- Bumble: Bumble is a public dating and networking platform with Bumble Date, Bumble Bizz, and Bumble BFF verticals. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering similar mobile subscription dating, and a reference point for Raya's networking/friendship expansion ambitions.
Others
- LinkedIn: LinkedIn is the dominant professional networking platform with a premium subscription model. Relevant as a broader networking reference for Raya's professional-networking use case and as a benchmark for monetizing vetted professional identity at scale.
- Soho House: Soho House is a global membership-based club for creatives, founders, and cultural figures. Raya is frequently called the 'Soho House of dating,' and Soho House provides a thematic reference for monetizing exclusive communities through both subscriptions and curated events.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Raya social profiles
Digital presenceRaya financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Raya leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Raya funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Raya M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Raya
What does Raya do?
Raya is a membership-based mobile application for dating, networking, and discovery among creatives, founders, and well-connected individuals. Prospective users must complete an application that is reviewed by an internal membership committee using factors such as Instagram presence, referrals from existing members, and city popularity before being admitted. Approved users pay a monthly subscription ($25 standard, $50 premium) for access to a vetted community with strict privacy protections including a no-screenshot policy and no read receipts.
Is Raya a public or private company?
Raya is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Raya founded?
Raya was founded in 2015. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Raya based?
Raya is headquartered in Los Angeles, United States, in the North America region.
How does Raya make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Standard Membership Subscription is the primary driver. The others are premium Membership Subscription and in-App Purchases.
Who are Raya's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are The League, Inner Circle, Thursday, Luxy and Millionaire Match. Broad incumbents are Hinge, Tinder and Bumble. Others are LinkedIn and Soho House.
Does Raya have an API?
No public API is recorded for Raya.
What industry is Raya in?
Raya's product category is Online Dating & Social Networking. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPACAJAH, Dating & Relationship Networking, with a secondary code of BPAMABAF, Dating & Relationship Networks.