Bootstrapped and profitable: Taimi and Hily set their sights on IPO readiness

In 2017, Alex Pasykov and his Kyiv co-founders made an unconventional choice in the dating app industry: instead of developing a single app, they created two. The first, Hily, targets the mainstream dating market, while the second, Taimi, is an inclusive LGBTQ+ dating platform. Unlike apps catering to a specific part of the queer community, Taimi aims to be a one-stop dating platform for people of various sexual orientations, gender identities, and relationship preferences. During a recent visit to Kyiv, I spoke with Pasykov about Taimi's journey and its future goals.

Pasykov highlighted the shift in strategy for Taimi, which began as an attempt to create a one-size-fits-all LGBTQ+ dating app. However, they soon realized the complexity of the task and the need to focus on one clear problem: why should someone install their app for dating. By returning to their original idea of a social network for the LGBTQ+ community, Pasykov believes the company's focus and understanding of their mission improved.

A significant challenge for Taimi lies in balancing safety, privacy, and moderation with the diverse range of gender identities and sexual orientations its user base encompasses. The company employs automated processes to detect harmful behavior, ban offenders, and protect users from explicit imagery. Taimi also offers features such as screenshot protection and the ability to disguise the app with a generic icon, ensuring users can maintain their privacy.