Alike
In short: Alike is a video-based dating and friendship app for Asian people in North America. It was founded by Hanmin Yang, who is its CEO, and is based in Toronto, Canada. It came out of the iBoost Zone incubator at Ryerson University. It matters as an example of an ethnicity-focused app that replaces written bios with video prompts.
Key facts
| Type | Dating app |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Toronto, Canada |
| Founded | 2020 |
| Status | Current operating status not confirmed. Latest sources seen are from 2022. |
| Website | alike.dating |
| Headquarters | Toronto, Canada [Toronto-based dating app helps foster connections within the, 13 February 2022] |
| Founder and CEO | Hanmin Yang [New dating and friendship app connects Asian Americans, 17 March 2022] |
| Product | Video dating app for Asian people in North America. Users answer prompts in videos instead of writing a bio. [Toronto-based dating app helps foster connections within the, 13 February 2022] |
| Incubator | Developed with iBoost Zone, the early-stage technology incubator at Ryerson University (now Toronto Metropolitan University) [New dating app, Alike, celebrates Asian culture, identity, p, February 2021] |
| Beta launch | Closed beta in December 2020, then a soft launch in August 2021 [New dating and friendship app connects Asian Americans, 17 March 2022] |
| Beta downloads | Over 700 downloads in the first week of the December 2020 beta, as reported by the company [New dating and friendship app connects Asian Americans, February 2021] |
| Friendship feature | Friendship feature added in July 2021 after beta testers asked for non-romantic connections [New dating and friendship app connects Asian Americans, 17 March 2022] |
| Website | alike.dating [Hanmin Y. on LinkedIn, 2020] |
| Team size | 2 to 10 employees (Riipen company listing, undated) [Riipen] |
About Alike
Alike is a video dating app that describes itself as celebrating Asian identity, culture and story. It is based in Toronto and was founded by Hanmin Yang, who is its founder and CEO. Yang is a Ryerson University graduate, and the app was developed with iBoost Zone, the university's early-stage technology incubator, which is now part of Toronto Metropolitan University. Early coverage described it as aimed at Asian people in the United States and Canada.
The product replaces the written bio with video. Users upload photos and record videos in answer to prompts, some of them Asian-specific, such as "I knew I was Asian when...". Users can seek men, women or non-binary people in any combination. A friendship option was added in July 2021 after beta testers asked for a way to connect platonically, which moved the app from a pure dating product towards a wider social network. At registration, users say whether they identify as Asian and can choose to be matched with Asian users or with everyone.
According to company material and press reports, a closed beta launched in December 2020 and reached over 700 downloads in its first week. A soft launch followed in August 2021. In 2022 Yang said Alike was still a small platform and that he planned to look for investors. The idea of a network for Asian users has drawn some criticism, and Yang has said the app is not meant to promote dating only within one group. We could not confirm the app's current operating status, user numbers or funding from sources we could see.
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Questions about Alike
What is Alike?
Alike is a video dating and friendship app for Asian people in North America, based in Toronto. Users answer prompts in videos instead of writing a bio.
Who founded Alike?
Hanmin Yang founded Alike and is its CEO, according to AsAmNews and The Varsity.
When did Alike launch?
A closed beta began in December 2020 and a soft launch followed in August 2021, according to AsAmNews.
Is Alike open only to Asian users?
No. Users say at registration whether they identify as Asian and can choose to match with Asian users or with everyone, according to AsAmNews.
Where is Alike based?
Alike is based in Toronto, Canada.
When was Alike founded?
Alike was founded in 2020.
Also known as: Alike dating.