AI Will Play a Bigger Role in Dating: Ravi Mittal
Gen Z dominates the space, and this year is about quick connections. They're ready to date and match with people from other places
In an exclusive conversation with Deccan Chronicle, Ravi Mittal, CEO of Quack Quack, India's fastest-growing dating app, gives a peek into the world of online dating, trends, challenges, and future of love in the digital age.
What’s driving the growth of dating apps in India?
I think the pandemic sparked the growth, as people sought connections during lockdown. We saw a huge uptick, with 20-25,000 daily downloads. Now, growth is driven by tier 2 and 3 cities, and Gen Z users born after 2000. They are our core audience, with 65-68% of new users coming from small cities and towns.
How does your algorithm ensure meaningful matches?
We keep it simple. Many users don’t know what they want, so we avoid too many filters. Instead, we let people explore and discover matches, whether for dating, serious relationships, casual connections, or even friendships.
What safety checks do you have in place to prevent scams and fake profiles?
We use machine learning and AI to detect suspicious patterns and block scammers. We also have a 24/7 manual moderation team and a database of scammer photos. Our goal is to block suspicious profiles within 15 minutes.
How do you cater to the diverse preferences of Indian users, especially in tier 2 and 3 cities?
We enable users to find matches from across India, as they're often okay with interacting online. This is especially important in smaller cities where dating is new and privacy is a concern. We are seeing an evolving culture where people are making friends online.
What are the current dating trends you have observed?
Gen Z dominates the space, and this year is about quick connections. They're ready to date and match with people from other places. We are also seeing ‘micro dating’, where people connect on small, common interests, like K-drama, and take it forward from there.
What’s the craziest dating story you have heard from a user?
A candidate from Varanasi told me he met his fiancée on Quack Quack and they are getting married soon. It was wild and coincidental, especially since I was interviewing him for a job!
What is the most popular pick up line on your app?
I do not think there is any popular pick up line, but the most cliche is ‘Hi. What are you looking for on this app?’
Have you ever used your own app to find love?
Fortunately or unfortunately, I was already dating someone when Quack Quack launched, and we got married a year later.
Why did you come up with the idea for Quack Quack?
In 2010, I was a college dropout with a small social circle. I wanted to find someone, but existing dating websites had a small user base. It was a personal need that I wanted to solve.
Do you have any dating deal breakers?
If I were to date, deal breakers would be people who boast excessively, discuss finances too much, speak negatively about exes, or lack honesty and transparency.
What’s your own worst dating experience?
I had a date with a girl who had lost her parents in an accident. After the date, I went home and cried, feeling really bad for her. It was an awkward, emotional experience.
What’s the next big dating trend?
AI will play a bigger role in dating, refining profiles, and suggesting questions. We're incorporating more AI elements to make profile creation easier. With Gen Z and Gen Alpha, there’s much to explore and understand.
