The French are known for their romantic flair, and a new dating app that started in France is helping people in cities like New York to find the perfect match.
According to the New York Post, Happn is a fast-growing mobile dating app that matches users whose paths have already crossed in real life. The app makes it easier for singles to come up with an “icebreaker” since they have already seen their potential match out and about in the city.
Happn’s outspoken CEO, Didier Rappaport, is quick to note that his app is different from Tinder, which is largely considered to be the most popular online dating resource for millennials.
“Frankly speaking, the swipe is an amazing invention,” Rappaport said. “But when you apply the concept of the swipe to a human being, you transform the human being into an object.”
Launched in Feb. 2014, Happn currently has about 10 million registered users worldwide, with about 250,000 of those users being based in NYC. Rappaport added that his app is much more focused on developing real relationships than Tinder, which is infamous for breeding one-night stands.
“It’s not a hookup app” like Tinder, Rappaport declares. “With our app, you do not swipe through people so easily with your hand. You approach people, you are struck by someone, you start to talk.”
About 71% of people say they believe in love at first sight, but Rappaport thinks that true love goes deeper than just a swipe. His app allows users to find people they pass in the hustle and bustle of the city, which is quite common in NYC.
According to Bustle, the app is mainly geared towards young people with active social lives. It experiences an activity dip on Fridays and Saturdays while users are out partying, and peak activity is usually on Sundays.
Marie Cosnard, Director of Trends for Happn, said that NYC is a perfect place to use the app because it was created for the busy on-the-go person who missed out on what could have been a lifelong romance.
“It doesn’t have to be as huge as New York City, but it’s not for a village,” Cosnard said.
For those who are intrigued by the app’s capabilities, Cosnard added that the best neighborhoods for Happn in NYC are Columbus Circle, the Financial District, and Union Square.
