34 – Finding Friends and Building Business w/ Katie Hartle of FriendMatch

Meet Katie Hartle, Founder and CEO of FriendMatch - a unique company that is exactly as it sounds - think online dating but strictly for platonic friendships instead. In a time where loneliness is at an all-time high, Katie has built a community over 100 countries to help tackle just this, answering the question "How to Make Friends" for more than 5 million people - and counting.

In this episode, we cover the human side of business, how to build a lean start-up, tips for growing a community, and so much more. If you have an idea you believe in - be sure to catch this episode to be inspired to get started today!

Listen now online here, on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or find us on most major podcast platforms. Prefer video? Watch now on YouTube! Just search Start Canada Podcast.

Meet Katie Hartle, Founder and CEO of FriendMatch – a unique company that is exactly as it sounds – think online dating but strictly for platonic friendships instead. In a time where loneliness is at an all-time high, Katie has built a community over 100 countries to help tackle just this, answering the question “How to Make Friends” for more than 5 million people – and counting. 

In this episode, we cover the human side of business, how to build a lean start-up, tips for growing a community, and so much more. If you have an idea you believe in – be sure to catch this episode to be inspired to get started today!   

Listen now online here, on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or find us on most major podcast platforms. Prefer video? Watch now on YouTube HERE!

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

0:33 Meet Katie Hartle, Founder of FriendMatch
5:50 Validating Your Idea
8:00 Evolution of the Online Dating Industry
14:55 Current State of Loneliness 
22:20 SPEED ROUND
25:30 Dragons Den
31:40 Building a Lean Start-Up
38:30 Balancing Businesses and Life
45:25 Giving Back to the Community
52:08 The Future of FriendMatch 

Follow Our Guest – And Let Them Know What You Learned From This Episode:

friendmatch.com
Facebook @friendmatchofficial
Instagram @friendmatch21
Twitter @friendmatch

Find Your Start – Episode Resources Mentioned by Our Guest:

Glow Fitness for Women
Guinness World Records: Largest Gathering of Angels
Katie pitching FriendMatch on Dragons Den
Competitive Dating Apps branching into friend matching: Bumble and Tinder
Loneliness Epidemic: scholarly article / Vox article

Follow Start Canada Podcast – And Share What You Learned From This Episode:

Facebook: @StartCanadaPodcast
Instagram: @StartCanadaPodcast
LinkedIn: @StartCanadaPodcast
Twitter: @MargauxAMiller
YouTube: @StartCanadaPodcast

Start Canada Podcast is supported by:

Scotiabank
Manitoba Technology Accelerator 
Tech Manitoba