Almost every week a new dating app is released, promising a new niche which will guarantee you find the one. Yet in such a saturated market, it’s hard to stand out from the crowd and actually make a mark on the singles agenda.  

But that’s why The Inner Circle is quite so special. This European startup managed to find a gap in the market like no other. Rather than focusing their efforts on keeping people on the app, they’re doing all they can to get users offline. It seems like a pretty adverse strategy, but it’s working. Here’s what they’re doing. 

It starts when users sign up. They’re asked to provide up-to-date images, with no filters or any obstructions to their face (sunglasses for example). There’s then a team of experts who manually check the new profiles to make sure that the pictures are right, while also blocking any fake or fraudulent accounts. It keeps their users safe and at the same time means you can date feeling safer and more confident to get offline. 

Once on the platform, there are features that help with the move to offline, such as the ‘Who’s up for?’ tool which helps users organise spontaneous dates. There’s another called ‘Spots’ which is a list created by members to help others plan their dates. Inner Circle users can even search their favourite venues and see who else likes to visit, this way the ice is broken as the meet-up happens on familiar territory. 

Finally (and probably what this app is most famous for) are the singles events. These are hosted every month all over the world, and are anything from masterclasses to house parties and even festivals. What’s quite so special about these is how they’re able to create a laid back vibe with non-gimmicky entertainment, leaving singles to get to know one another in a natural way. The Inner Circle’s caused a stir in the media recently for redefining singles nights, so the fuss can’t be about nothing. 

No dating app is guaranteed to find you the one. But with more people meeting online than offline, it’s time to get involved.

What are you waiting for? Sign up to The Inner Circle here.