India’s tech-savvy women entrepreneurs have today revolutionised multitasking – from coding and solo travelling to engaging in adventure sports, managing their business ventures, and being vocal about relationships and sexuality. Breaking barriers and shattering taboos every day, these individuals are fearless and empowered, which has particularly helped redefine the country’s dating scene.
While sex has always been a taboo in India, these individuals are rapidly changing the game today. A recent survey states that 80% of Indians between 18 and 34 years of age, from seven cities, believe that sex is an important part of a relationship. 80% of them also stressed the significance of experimentation and exploration in their sex lives. Women entrepreneurs constituted a majority of the respondents, showcasing the wave of progressive change that the sector is currently undergoing.
Technological proficiency has played a massive role in this, especially when it comes to dating apps. In fact, a notable (chosen to remain anonymous) founder of an EdTech startup stated that Tinder was life-changing for her. The popular dating app had helped her find the person who would eventually be her founding partner in her business venture.
Launched in India in 2016, Tinder has picked up rapidly in the next few years. In 2018, it recorded 7.5 Mn daily swipes in India, with Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Gurugram being among its 10 most popular markets, globally. Several other apps have also followed suit since Tinder’s launch, including Grindr, Bumble, Hinge, and OkCupid, along with homegrown apps like Woo and TrulyMadly. New York-based OkCupid today has over one million users in India, recording as many as 25,000 dates, every week.
However, the huge population of the country often makes finding the right match an extremely tedious task. This is where tech has helped streamline the process, with many women entrepreneurs using these apps the same way as they would use a project management tool. From scheduling a time during a specific day of the week to spend on the app to using calendar invites to manage both their professional and romantic lives, these women expertly leverage the power of software to organise their entire lives.
In fact, they aren’t afraid to mix business with pleasure either, often encountering a future business partner or investor on a dating app. Most of these apps use advanced machine learning-based algorithms to match people with similar ideologies, beliefs, and ambitions. As such, they help connect them to other individuals who share extremely similar interests.
Safety on these apps, however, continues to be a concern for these women entrepreneurs, as such apps are also populated by many fraudulent and disconcerting members, most of whom happen to be men. These women don’t let that stop them, however. As Melissa Hobley, the CMO of OkCupid says, “Instead of being told what to do, or having other people choose on their behalf, today’s young Indians — particularly financially independent women — want to make their own choices based on the connection they share with a person.”
They know exactly how to leverage their potential without compromising on their choices, thereby leading the way for a better future.
Content Team
Himanshu
Shree Lahiri
