I built a dating app where you can't see photos until you've actually connected. here's what I learned
Hey IH,
I'm Aloium, solo dev from Milan. I've been building BlindMatch for the past several months and just launched open beta on iOS. Wanted to share the journey and get some feedback.
The idea: Most dating apps optimize for engagement, not relationships. Infinite swipe, instant photo judgment, then ghosting. I wanted to flip the model personality first, photos earned.
What I built:
Aura AI: a Claude-powered conversational system that maps your personality across 5 dimensions (social energy, financial mindset, conflict style, family values, ambition)
One match at a time (no juggling 20 conversations)
Progressive unlock: text → voice → photos
No-ghosting rule: you must leave feedback + a message to close a match
72h first message rule: match expires if you don't engage
Stack: React Native / Expo (iOS), FastAPI / Python backend, PostgreSQL on Fly.io, RevenueCat for payments, Anthropic API for Aura, Sentry for monitoring.
Where I am: Open beta, ~20 early users, iterating fast. Revenue: €0 (still pre-monetization, focused on retention and product-market fit).
What I'd love feedback on:
Does the "no photos until you connect" mechanic sound appealing or scary to you?
What would make you actually try this vs. going back to Tinder/Hinge?
Any red flags in the model I'm not seeing?
TestFlight link in bio. Happy to answer anything.
