Forj today announced the launch of the first AI-powered dating app focusing on finding young Jewish singles meaningful and long-term relationships. Currently available dating apps make finding love in the 21st feel like an exhausting, painful and even dangerous process by reducing a critical life decision to a video game rather than a meaningful process. Forj plans to solve this problem by getting to know its user for who they truly are with a high-tech approach. Forj strived to be the most personalized matchmaking service for young Jewish singles – without the expense, awkwardness or inconvenience associated with hiring a human matchmaker.
Forj differentiates itself from dating app competitors by aiming to truly understand the user to the extent that they can explicitly tell them who they are and what they need. The founders of Forj believe that while physical appearance, economic status and general interests is often enough to get two people on a first date, it is far from enough in terms of the nuanced factors of lifelong compatibility. Additionally, other available dating apps can easily be gamed by users who provide phony information about themselves, resulting in a catfish situation, a common complaint of modern daters. Forj has managed to overcome this hurdle by developing a user verification system that utilized the latest AI technology. Forj’s unique value proposition results from the following features:
Anti-Hookup Culture Technology: As Forj’s technology cannot be gamed by users while creating their profiles, daters that are uninterested in long-term matches are weeded out.
Sophisticated Algorithms: The app helps users find lasting love by providing the most compatible matches, based on years of data generated by the founders.
AI Dating Coach: Unparalleled AI research-based profile questions on personality, interests and user preferences. Forj shows daters what they have in common with matches in very specific ways.
Success Tested: During Beta testing and their September 2018 soft launch, the app received 8,500 users. Beta testing resulted in a 95% success rate in finding users compatible matches.
Anti-Catfish Verification: Users are verified for age, gender, profile picture match and location.
Compatibility-Focused: A unique, carefully designed, compatibility-focused and research-based sign-up process.
Smart Dating: Click-to-highlight enables users to select anything and everything of what they love about their matches, enabling the app to learn about the individual and provide even more accurate matches.
Event Mode: Enables attendees of the same event to meet in person and get to know one another in the most comfortable way possible.
Premium Options: Forj will offer the option to opt-in to premium features such as an ad-free experience, ice-breakers, extra virtual presents, dating-spots, increased search filters and chat feedback.
Forj co-founders, Joe and Shira Teichman previously co-founded Breakthrough Dating, a successful dating coaching service with a 90% success rate for their clients. As a result of their clients routinely commenting that the quantitative and effective methodology could be productized into a fantastic app, the Teichmans created Forj.
“By the time I met my wife and Forj co-founder Shira in 2014, we’d both been burned by dead-end dating in New York. Singles mixers, apps and matchmakers alike, were failing us—and, like thousands of others, we were starting to experience dating burn-out. The scene was getting old fast, and we knew it was time to innovate,” said Forj Co-Founder Joe Teichman. “The dating coaching company we founded, Breakthrough Dating, garnered widespread attention for its innovative focus on helping Jewish singles get to know each other authentically. With a refreshing new twist on modern love that de-emphasizes superficial presentation and restores true connection, Breakthrough Dating proved the need for a serious dating app.”
By Shira and Joe Teichman
Joe Teichman, co-founder and CEO of Forj, has nine years experience in data science, finance and programming analyzing technology companies for hedge funds and other investment vehicles. His wife, Shira Teichman, co-founder and head of content at Forj, founded Breakthrough Dating, a successful matching and dating coaching service with a 90% success rate for clients.
