Innovation and Security: Meet7 Co-Founder Saurabh Awasthi … – CXOToday.com

CXOToday has engaged in an exclusive interview withMr. Saurabh Awasthi, Cofounder, Meet7

1. How does Meet7 leverage machine learning and data analytics to enhance user experiences and improve matching algorithms?

Ans. The core issue in online dating today is its focus on quantity of matches over quality, where its users get random matches with no compatibility. The resulting dull, disjointed and boring conversations with no actual dates ruins the user experience. Meet7 uses AI, machine learning and data analytics to elevate user experiences through:

• Best fit matches: Meet7’s ability to find best fit matches is its USP, without which the app would not be celebrating having over 1000+ couples. It uses AI to match users with compatible partners based on their interests, values, and personality traits. With the vision of ‘meeting people not profiles’, it offers the ‘CompQ’ feature that assesses personality traits by asking a few simple questions, analyzes compatibility before returning matches – together ensuring more meaningful connections.
• Ensuring complete safety and privacy: Machine learning algorithms play a crucial role in proactively detecting and preventing fraudulent activities on the app, ensuring a safer and more secure environment for all users. Meet7 not only verifies the identity of the user through a selfie, but also verifies the liveliness of a person by asking them to smile or blink. For example, a user (or a bot) cannot trick our verification by taking a selfie of a picture. Further, steps like invite only system for men, LinkedIn verification (rather than any other social media app), blurring of women’s profile till interaction, and behavior scores ensure authenticity and an extremely high-quality community on the app.
• ‘Detoxifying’ online dating: Right from the start of the user journey, ‘no swipe’ dating treats a user like a human and not reduced to a few characteristics of a profile.This increases feelings of self worth and confidence and encourages positive attitudes on the app. Further, Meet7 has a zero-tolerance policy against cyberbullying and catfishing. The app also features a behavior scoring system only displayed on male users’ profiles, enabling women to make better decisions. While female profiles will not display such scores, any suspicious or false activity or reporting by women, will be monitored, discouraged and dealt with promptly.
• Ushering users through their journey: Meet7’s data engine is primed for interactions, allowing the app to offers a variety of unique interactive features, such as ice-breaking sessions and games, that prompt users to engage better. Through machine learning, we can usher users to the next steps based on the stage of their interaction. For example, to kill the awkwardness and to save you from embarrassing yourself, Meet7 has curated guided interactions with the ‘KnowQ’Through a set of questions with options, you can learn to understand the person by building a cohesive conversation.
• In-app behavior analysis: Data analytics is used to study user interactions on the platform, by tracking engagement with profiles, messaging patterns, and response rates. Through this, Meet7 is learning to “Watch what users do, not just what they say”. This behavioral analysis continually refines the matching algorithms, ensuring that Meet7:
  • identifies “bad actors” indulging in fraudulent or inappropriate behavior; and
  • carefully selects the next set of matches catered to individual interests and expectations using in-app behavior analysis.

To conclude, Meet7 isn’t just repairing what’s broken; it’s setting new benchmarks for dating apps, earning us 125000 users in just 9 months.

2. Given the intense competition in the industry,What strategies has Meet7 employed to stand out in this crowded space from technological perspectives, and what do you see as your unique selling points?

Ans. Meet7’s commitment to leveraging technology for improved user experiences and safety sets it apart in the world of online dating. Meet7 stands taller than its competitors through:

• No Swiping or Commoditizing Users: Most dating apps in India use some form of ‘swiping’ to match them to a potential interest – where the user either swipes through profiles or clicks on a ‘tick’ or a ‘cross’ and their potential interest must also swipe or tick them to return a match. This makes users a part of a catalog of profiles for other users to browse – leading to feelings of anxiety, depression and ‘swipe-fatigue’. Meet7 has a “no swipe” approach that leads to a distinctive dating journey tailored to individuals seeking more meaningful connections than fleeting encounters.
• Mandating identity verification, instead of optionalizing: While most dating apps encourage their users to verify their identities, the same is not mandatory and a person who doesn’t go through identity verification can continue to find matches on these apps. On Meet7, a user cannot make a profile without verifying their identity, and if any part of the verification and analysis returns a different result than what was fed in the profile, the system flags the profile and no matches are given to the user.
• Preference to user interaction inputs over provided Inputs: The Meet7 Algorithm uses machine learning to track both overt and covert preferences of our users. This is in contrast to traditional dating platforms, which often rely on superficial criteria such as appearance and location rather than more reliable metrics such as in-app behavior analysis and responses to KnowQ and CompQ questions. This ensures that users are presented with personalized recommendations more likely to result in meaningful connections.

3. How does Meet7 ensure that user data, especially LinkedIn profiles used for verification, is handled securely and with privacy in mind?

Ans. Meet7 ensures that user data, especially LinkedIn profiles used for verification, is handled securely and with privacy in mind by:

• Using data / information encryption: All information and user data on meet7 is encrypted and can be accessed only by the admin through a secured passcode. All our analysis and machine learning is performed without accessing any personal data / information
• Storing data securely: Meet7 stores user data on secure servers that are protected by multiple layers of security measures.
• Giving users control over their data: Meet7 gives users control over their data by allowing them to choose what information they share with the platform and who they share it with. Users can also delete their account and all of their data at any time.

4. How has Meet7’s tech-driven approach enhanced women’s safety in the dating realm?

Ans. In our 125,000 users, nearly half are women. We have achieved this milestone by setting higher standards for privacy and security, as well as quality of conversation that women have with suggested matches. Meet7 shows its commitment to women’s safety through:

• Mandatory identity verification: Meet7’s selfie and liveliness verification process, as highlighted above, ensures that all users are genuine there by eradicating possibilities of creating fake profiles.
• Invite only: This is an exclusive feature deployed to ensure male users can access the app solely through a referral code provided by an existing Meet7 female user or by linking their LinkedIn profile to their dating profile. This approach contributes to maintaining a high-quality user base and has been pivotal to the app’s success.
• Blurred profile pictures: Female profile pictures are kept blurred till such time as the interaction between the user and her match commences on the platform. Also, the app does not allow for any screenshots to be taken while the app is open. This reduces the chances of stalking, bullying and “Tindstagramming” (where people try making contact with users who reject them, on social media apps such as LinkedIn and Instagram.
• Fraud detection: Meet7 runs certain analytics on the profile photo which is verified. We are able to determine the general age range and gender of the person. If the details filed by the person in their profile do not match our analysis, the profile is flagged and investigated. Further, the in-app behavior analysis also flags any fraudulent or inappropriate conduct patterns, and we can inform female users of the same by altering behavior scores of the male user.
• Behavior scoring: Based on user input and behavior analysis, a score is displayed on a male user’s profile to enable women to make an informed decision about interacting. This, along with other security features, discourage any toxic behaviors such as ghosting, bullying and harassment. Our dedicated team will investigate reports of violations of our community guidelines, such as cyberbullying, online harassment, catfishing, or the creation of false profiles and take swift action to maintain the integrity of our platform, including making profiles inactive till issues are resolved.

5. With user engagement being crucial, can you discuss any innovative technological strategies or features Meet7 is planning to implement to keep users engaged and satisfied?

Ans. Dating apps live or die by their user engagement – so the effort to enhance and improve engagement remains a key focus. AI-driven algorithms are becoming more sophisticated, offering more accurate and personalized matches – attempting to match vibes and not just preferences. On our app, users can expect certain engagement such as:

• Couple games for healthy engagement: We suggest certain in-app quizzes and games to couples, curated specifically to the stage of interaction between them. For example, for couples who are in the early stages of their journey, we would suggest simple word association and poem/story completion games, and for couples who have been together for a while we would have in-depth quizzes, exercises designed to explore each other’s personality deeper, and games like cards against humanity.
• Matches’ next step recommendation and prompts: Through KnowQ and other features explained above, if a conversation lags we prompt our users by reminding them of the other person’s likes or interests. The app also ushers its users by indicating the right stage to play a couple game, give compliments, in-app gifts or even go on either a virtual or real life date. The app can also suggest places for a date based on mutual preferences to ease the awkwardness in India around such conversations.
• Instant/scheduled speed dating events: For users who prefer a more interactive experience, we offer curated speed dating sessions where each person would video meet up to 7 people for a speed dating experience. This allows users to speed through their partner finding process, and build confidence through interaction.

6. How does Meet7 handle data synchronization and ensure seamless experiences for users across multiple devices?

Ans. Meet7 users can be logged in only on any one device at a time. If the user changes the device, it gets automatically logged out of the previous device.

7. In a swiftly evolving digital landscape, what is your vision for the future of online social connections, and how does Meet7 intend to contribute to shaping that future?

Ans. Over time, swipe-style apps which present like browsing through catalogs of profiles have created a chasm between online and offline dating. It has caused issues of anxiety, self worth,  frustration and loneliness, as people who tend to socialise online fail to make fruitful relationships in the real world. Online users seem to wear a mask by modifying their profile and picture, to ensure they increase their chances of a right swipe to get maximum matches. On the other hand, due to skewed gender ratios, women are overwhelmed with attention on such apps- leading to analysis paralysis as well as discomfort. Our vision is to completely eliminate “swiping through a catalog of profiles” to select dates. While we use AI/ML, our app is human and values interactions over matches. We see Meet7 as an effortless, serious dating app which makes online dating safer and easier for users.

8. Lastly, what exciting developments or features can users expect from Meet7 in the near future, and how will they benefit from these enhancements?

Ans. Meet7 is constantly evolving through its own learning as well as user feedback. Our focus will remain on increasing user engagement, safety and meaningful interactions. Along with personality tests through questions, we are exploring using face analysis to also determine characteristics of a user. Further, we plan to improve user interactions through additional couple games and quizzes, virtual speed dating and guided next steps as discussed above. We will continue to raise the bar for safety and privacy of our users through in-app behaviour analysis and create a more meaningful online dating world.