The GDI & Social Discovery Podcast

In this episode, host Mark Brooks speaks with Quincy Yang, CEO of Coffee Meets Bagel North America, about the company's commitment to intentional dating, its growth strategy, and the future of AI in online dating. Yang explains how Coffee Meets Bagel has remained committed to its “friction by design” philosophy, prioritising intentional, high-quality matches over endless swiping. As swipe fatigue grows across the industry, he argues that dating trends are shifting back toward slower, more meaningful connections. The conversation also explores Coffee Meets Bagel’s international growth, particularly in Asia, its marketing strategy centred on creators and influencers, and insights from its 2025 Realness Report. Yang discusses the delicate balance between AI assistance and authenticity, noting that users welcome AI support but reject AI-generated identities. He also shares perspectives on trust and safety, localisation, and how emerging AI technologies could reshape dating experiences in the years ahead.

In this episode of the GDI Podcast, host Mark Brooks speaks with Candice Gallagher, founder of SinglePore and 30 Girls Club, about how dating culture is evolving for people in their 30s and 40s. Candice shares her journey from creating dating content in Singapore to launching sold-out matchmaking and social events that blend online tools with real-world connection. She explores the emotional realities of modern dating, the rise of activity-based events, and key cultural differences between dating in Singapore and London. The conversation also looks ahead to where dating is heading, highlighting growing fatigue with apps, the demand for more meaningful connection, and new opportunities for curation, community, and discovery in the dating ecosystem.

n this episode of the GDI Podcast, host Mark Brooks sits down with Emma Sayle, the powerhouse founder & CEO behind Killing Kittens and WAX, to unpack how a rebellious idea from a frustrated 26-year-old became a global movement empowering women, redefining intimacy, and reshaping the future of sex-positive communities. Emma shares the unfiltered founding story of Killing Kittens, how its unapologetic ethos grew into worldwide events, a thriving digital ecosystem, KK Cruises & Retreats, and now the fast-growing WAX platform—home to verified members, community-driven groups, workshops, dating, and even built-in sexual health features. She also reveals: ✨ The wild origin behind the “Killing Kittens” name ✨ Why WAX became the brand members named themselves ✨ How KK built safety tech like SafeDate ✨ The strategy powering WAX’s rapid growth in the UK & US ✨ A bold future vision—from ad-tech to global expansion to even a KK Hotel

In the latest episode of the GDI Podcast, Mark Brooks, CEO of Courtland Brooks, speaks with David Vermeulen, co-founder and CEO of Inner Circle, about the brand’s curated approach to dating, its explosive growth in Latin America, and its vision for 2027. Vermeulen shares the origins of Inner Circle, which began as a response to the impersonal and time-consuming nature of early online dating. His mission was clear: to create a community for like-minded singles focused on quality connections and meaningful interactions. The conversation also touches on Inner Circle’s “Date Conscious Suite,” an initiative to promote respectful behaviour and reduce ghosting. Vermeulen emphasizes that users are expected to act online as they would offline — with manners and accountability. Misconduct is swiftly addressed, maintaining the platform’s high trust levels and offline-oriented ethos. Looking ahead, Vermeulen envisions Inner Circle evolving into a community-driven lifestyle platform, helping people not only find love but also connect through shared experiences. As he puts it, “We bring people together and change the course of their lives.”

Mark Rollings, Co-Founder at Paranormal Date by The GDI & Social Discovery Podcast

Adam Cohen-Aslatei, CEO of Three Day Rule by The GDI & Social Discovery Podcast

Eventful is a dating app focused on facilitating offline dating experiences to combat user burnout from traditional apps. In this episode, Tegan discussed Eventful's matching process based on shared interests and date activity suggestions. She also goes into detail about the company's origin, approach to dating and event booking and focus on mental well-being. Tegan also talks about the evolution of dating apps, the current status of a London launch and future vision.

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In this episode, Ethan talks to industry consultant Bill Alena to discuss his innovative approach to dating apps, focusing exclusively on the 18-28 demographic and creating a vibrant, music-driven user experience. Ethan shared how his own experiences, combined with those of his friends, led him to realize that the current dating landscape wasn’t truly meeting the needs of younger users. While apps like TikTok were capturing gen Z’s attention with energetic, engaging content, dating apps felt outdated and lacked excitement.

Hari Gopal - Founder, Hearts Dating by The GDI & Social Discovery Podcast

In this episode, Christof introduces us to Hornet, the fun, go-to app for fun, engaging chat with gay men. We hear about the background behind setting up the platform, which has more than 100 million users across the globe, and what key market trends Christof is seeing in the market.

In this episode. Ankit introduces us to Flamme - the dating app for couples who feel disconnected due to busy work schedules or long distance, helping them connect better with gamified healthy habits and an AI coach. He shares his thoughts on what he is seeing in the online dating and matchmaking market, what advice he would give to those in the industry and how he sees it playing out in 2025.

In this episode, we talk to Colin about DOWN App and what role it plays in the online dating and matchmaking market. He tells us more about what the business and what is in store for 2025, as well as sharing his views on the current state of the industry