Raya

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.

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

Product category

Online Dating & Social Networking

akta.pro primary industry

Dating & Relationship Networking (MPACAJAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Dating & Relationship Networks (BPAMABAF)

Keywords

• Private dating app
• Exclusive social networking
• Membership dating community
• Mobile dating platform
• Elite dating network

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. 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
2. Premium Membership Subscription: Premium tier subscription at $50 per month offering additional features beyond standard membership
3. In-App Purchases: Users have ability to make in-app purchases paid via Apple account; payments automatically renew until canceled

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core 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

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• GIZminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 July 2025Raya 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

Direct 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

• Xx.com/raya_the_app

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Raya