Should I Build It Should I Build It
11 Apr 2025
Dating

An application to meet strangers for dinner that revolves around a ...

...theme of shared interest

Confidence
Engagement
Net use signal
Net buy signal

Idea type: Swamp

The market has seen several mediocre solutions that nobody loves. Unless you can offer something fundamentally different, you’ll likely struggle to stand out or make money.

Should You Build It?

Don't build it.

Your are here

You're entering a crowded space where several similar ideas have already launched, achieving only low engagement (avg of just 2 comments per product). With 10 similar products, competition is significant, placing your idea squarely in the 'Swamp' category, which means the market has seen mediocre solutions. None of the products we looked at got any significant traction. This suggests that unless your approach is fundamentally different, you might struggle to stand out. The discussions and criticisms surrounding similar products reveal concerns about exploitation, cumbersome rules, and the challenges of marketing such a product effectively. Given the negative signals and low engagement in this space, it's crucial to deeply re-evaluate before proceeding.

Recommendations

  1. First, conduct thorough research into why existing solutions in the 'meeting strangers for dinner' space haven't resonated with users. Identify the specific pain points or unmet needs that these apps failed to address.
  2. Consider whether your 'shared interest' theme offers a truly unique value proposition. How will you ensure that the interests are genuinely shared and engaging enough to overcome the inherent awkwardness of meeting strangers? Will a single shared interest be enough to bridge the gap, or do you need a more comprehensive matching system?
  3. Given the concerns about exploitation and safety raised in the competitor analysis, prioritize building trust and safety features into your app. This could include identity verification, background checks, or a reporting system for inappropriate behavior.
  4. Explore niche markets within the broader 'meeting strangers for dinner' category. Perhaps focus on specific age groups (e.g., young professionals, retirees), dietary restrictions (e.g., vegan, gluten-free), or cultural backgrounds.
  5. Instead of focusing solely on dinner, broaden your app's scope to include other shared activities and interests. This could open up new opportunities for monetization and user engagement. Instead of just dinner, what about meetups for hiking, board games, or other hobbies?
  6. Before launching a full-fledged app, validate your core assumptions with a minimum viable product (MVP). This could be a simple landing page or a series of in-person events to gauge interest and gather feedback.
  7. Carefully design a marketing strategy that addresses the specific concerns and criticisms of similar products. Highlight the unique benefits of your app, such as its focus on shared interests and its commitment to safety and trust.
  8. If the dinner format proves challenging, explore partnering with existing dining services or restaurants to build integrations and test the market from a different angle. A partnership may mitigate startup costs and increase brand credibility, while you test the market.

Questions

  1. Given the negative perceptions around similar apps potentially being exploitative ('mugging app'), how will you ensure your platform fosters genuine connection and avoids creating an environment where users feel vulnerable or taken advantage of?
  2. Considering the low engagement observed in comparable products, what specific features or mechanisms will you implement to encourage ongoing user interaction and prevent your app from becoming another 'one-and-done' download?
  3. How can you leverage the 'shared interest' theme to create more meaningful and sustainable connections beyond a single dinner, fostering a sense of community and repeat usage?

Your are here

You're entering a crowded space where several similar ideas have already launched, achieving only low engagement (avg of just 2 comments per product). With 10 similar products, competition is significant, placing your idea squarely in the 'Swamp' category, which means the market has seen mediocre solutions. None of the products we looked at got any significant traction. This suggests that unless your approach is fundamentally different, you might struggle to stand out. The discussions and criticisms surrounding similar products reveal concerns about exploitation, cumbersome rules, and the challenges of marketing such a product effectively. Given the negative signals and low engagement in this space, it's crucial to deeply re-evaluate before proceeding.

Recommendations

  1. First, conduct thorough research into why existing solutions in the 'meeting strangers for dinner' space haven't resonated with users. Identify the specific pain points or unmet needs that these apps failed to address.
  2. Consider whether your 'shared interest' theme offers a truly unique value proposition. How will you ensure that the interests are genuinely shared and engaging enough to overcome the inherent awkwardness of meeting strangers? Will a single shared interest be enough to bridge the gap, or do you need a more comprehensive matching system?
  3. Given the concerns about exploitation and safety raised in the competitor analysis, prioritize building trust and safety features into your app. This could include identity verification, background checks, or a reporting system for inappropriate behavior.
  4. Explore niche markets within the broader 'meeting strangers for dinner' category. Perhaps focus on specific age groups (e.g., young professionals, retirees), dietary restrictions (e.g., vegan, gluten-free), or cultural backgrounds.
  5. Instead of focusing solely on dinner, broaden your app's scope to include other shared activities and interests. This could open up new opportunities for monetization and user engagement. Instead of just dinner, what about meetups for hiking, board games, or other hobbies?
  6. Before launching a full-fledged app, validate your core assumptions with a minimum viable product (MVP). This could be a simple landing page or a series of in-person events to gauge interest and gather feedback.
  7. Carefully design a marketing strategy that addresses the specific concerns and criticisms of similar products. Highlight the unique benefits of your app, such as its focus on shared interests and its commitment to safety and trust.
  8. If the dinner format proves challenging, explore partnering with existing dining services or restaurants to build integrations and test the market from a different angle. A partnership may mitigate startup costs and increase brand credibility, while you test the market.

Questions

  1. Given the negative perceptions around similar apps potentially being exploitative ('mugging app'), how will you ensure your platform fosters genuine connection and avoids creating an environment where users feel vulnerable or taken advantage of?
  2. Considering the low engagement observed in comparable products, what specific features or mechanisms will you implement to encourage ongoing user interaction and prevent your app from becoming another 'one-and-done' download?
  3. How can you leverage the 'shared interest' theme to create more meaningful and sustainable connections beyond a single dinner, fostering a sense of community and repeat usage?

  • Confidence: High
    • Number of similar products: 10
  • Engagement: Low
    • Average number of comments: 2
  • Net use signal: 5.5%
    • Positive use signal: 8.6%
    • Negative use signal: 3.2%
  • Net buy signal: -3.2%
    • Positive buy signal: 0.0%
    • Negative buy signal: 3.2%

This chart summarizes all the similar products we found for your idea in a single plot.

The x-axis represents the overall feedback each product received. This is calculated from the net use and buy signals that were expressed in the comments. The maximum is +1, which means all comments (across all similar products) were positive, expressed a willingness to use & buy said product. The minimum is -1 and it means the exact opposite.

The y-axis captures the strength of the signal, i.e. how many people commented and how does this rank against other products in this category. The maximum is +1, which means these products were the most liked, upvoted and talked about launches recently. The minimum is 0, meaning zero engagement or feedback was received.

The sizes of the product dots are determined by the relevance to your idea, where 10 is the maximum.

Your idea is the big blueish dot, which should lie somewhere in the polygon defined by these products. It can be off-center because we use custom weighting to summarize these metrics.

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Heya HN! We built an app where you can set preferences for the kinds of people you want to meet and we make dinner reservations for you and 4 other people. doing a soft launch this week and just wanted to show off what we had built ;)How it works: sign up with google or apple answer a few quick questions about yourself. set your preferences(Industry, Interest, Age, etc) Click 'Join' for the day you are free. Show up to dinner and meet your people :)We are SF only for now! App is freeeeeeeeeee(for a short time)

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The world health organization has declared that social isolation and loneliness is a major global health problem [1]. I also note there are a lot of solo travelers. Here's my attempt to help with the problem. My favorite memories when I'm abroad is meeting with the local people. This is trying very hard to not be a dating/hookup app but a place where my family might be able to take a local out to dinner and learn about their lives and practice speaking a foreign language.[1]: https://www.who.int/teams/social-determinants-of-health/demo...

Comments on the app highlight concerns about social isolation as a major health issue, with some users perceiving the app as potentially exploitative, likening it to a 'mugging app.' There are also mentions of a long list of rules for sharing meals, which some users find cumbersome. However, the app is noted for its potential to reduce problems by suggesting an optional paid-for meal.

Users criticized the app for targeting wealthy visitors, likening it to a 'mugging' app. They also compared the experience to paying taxes, indicating a sense of financial burden. Additionally, the optional paid-for meal for hosts in expensive cities was seen as an unnecessary expense.

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A mini-guide on how to set up second degree dinners, where you can meet 3-4 new people by getting together with some friends. You and your friend invite 2 people, and ask them to invite 2 more people. Easy!

The product launch received a positive comment. Additionally, a user highlighted the importance of close connections, especially during difficult times.

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Swipe through meal suggestions for tonight. When someone else picks the same meal, you’ll match and can start shopping/cooking. Chat to share cooking tips & notes. Afterwards, vote to make it again next week.

Dinder's launch is met with positive feedback, users find the name clever and the core idea appealing. Several users express interest in the product and its potential for improving food compatibility. Suggestions include a marketing plan for user acquisition, a dinner party feature, and its utility for large city residents. One user will use Dinder at night and another will suggest it to their sister. A conference call feature is also proposed for a more intimate experience.

Users expressed concerns about the product's marketing strategy, suggesting a need for a more robust plan to attract users. Some also pointed out that interacting with the app while cooking might present practical challenges.

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Its an interest based networking app where you can make friends based on specific interests. Like to meet someone into origami or maybe someone who likes glass blowing. You can find and meet friends at Exprescial

The product launch received positive feedback. Users congratulated the team and praised the app's realistic nature and cool features. The comments suggest the product is well-developed and impressive.

The primary criticism is that the product's realism might not be ideal for all users, although the general sentiment appears positive.

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