Shahzad Younas’s Muslim dating application assisted 15,000 couples meet and obtain hitched. He informs Amelia Heathman about modern love

The expression goes: ‘Muslims do not date, we marry’,” claims Shahzad Younas, creator and CEO of this Muslim matching software Muzmatch. “It’s a phrase that is generalised it strikes the nail regarding the mind. If i am fulfilling a woman, we’re both reasoning, is this individual wedding product?”

Muzmatch is usually dubbed the Muslim Tinder but Younas isn’t therefore pleased with the contrast. It utilizes some typical dating-app structures, such as for example swipes and likes, but rather of centering on casual hook-ups it’s all about helping Muslims find anyone to marry.

Numerous Muslims are required to marry young and also to some body associated with faith that is same. Choices consist of using the services of a matchmaker, which computer technology graduate Younas defines as “like getting your CV passed around” to get a proper partner. Therefore it ended up being back 2014, after hearing their buddies swap tales about dating battles, he made a decision to produce an software that could make the dating process more “halal” — acceptable in religious legislation.

Younas quit their work as a good investment banker and invested half a year working days that are 18-hour produce Muzmatch inside the room. 6 months after introducing, the software had produced its very very first wedding.

“A few got in touch to express ‘thank you, we got hitched due to your app’. I became like, OK, this might be real,” he said. The outcome talk on their own: Muzmatch has several . 5 million users plus some 15,000 partners ‘ve got hitched after fulfilling about it.

It produced title for it self outside the Muslim community as a result of an advertisement campaign that went in the Tube just last year featuring Lionel Richie singing: “Halal, could it be me personally you’re hunting for?” The app ranks higher for downloads than the other religious-focused matching apps including JSwipe (Jewish) and Salt (Christian), according to analytics company App Annie, so it’s no wonder the big dating companies have come knocking in terms of competitors.

Younas will not point out whom, but states he has turned them straight down every time. “We’re on a objective to change how Muslims across the world think of marriage, and obtain married.”

Plenty of work gets into making sure Muzmatch is really a safe room for Muslims to talk and fulfill on the web. In 2016, the working platform introduced selfie verification to make certain everybody else regarding the software is whom they state they have been. The business features a united team in Bangladesh which, alongside its HQ in Aldgate, manually moderates every profile.

Other privacy features are embedded. Users can request a chaperone show up in conversations in the software, such as for instance a member of the family, as per an Islamic principle that after unmarried women and men chat a 3rd party should show up. Users may also ensure they have no profile image to their account or details such as for example their complete name, so they may be as private online as you can. “It’s about knowing that Muslims are incredibly diverse therefore we do not wish to force people down a road that is particular. We should function as safe area and offer top-level privacy to the users,” says Younas.

Security is vital for any other reasons. “We get lots of EDL kinds and people that are right-wing that you great deal of abuse — putting up Bin Laden images and all sorts of that form of stuff,” claims Younas. “The positive thing is they get spotted quickly and eliminated so we can block those users in a permanent means.” in https://hookupdate.net/jewish-dating-sites/ the upside, Muzmatch does have non-Muslims signing up since they’re interested in the faith, such the 50-plus guy whom changed into Islam after fulfilling somebody in the application. “The peoples tales can be pressing. We are wanting to tread that type of being open but faithful that is equally being our community. It is a tricky line to walk down but We think we have nailed it.”

Therefore what’s next? The start-up has accomplished profitability compliment of its premium paid-for tier however the next phase is to continue to enhance the app and its own features, and expand the group and its own reach. “Purely on a figures foundation, one-fifth around the globe is Muslim,” claims Younas. “On top of this, we estimate there remain 400 million Muslims that are solitary and qualified. We glance at that, and we’ve not really produced dent.”

The start-up has today announced the close of a big Series A funding round for $7m to help Muzmatch in its mission. Investors included respected Silicon accelerator that is valley-based Combinator – Younas participated when you look at the programme back 2017 – also as Luxor Capital.

“Shahzad has obviously made a thing that individuals want,” says Tim Brady, someone at Y Combinator. “He is really a resourceful creator whom happens to be hearing their users plus in the method is promoting an excellent solution for the Muslim community, in a fashion that main-stream organizations have actually neglected to do.”

Beyond bringing individuals together, Younas also really wants to alter attitudes when you look at the Muslim world in order that marriage is approached in a way that is modern. “My vision is the fact that whenever Muslims across the world think of getting married Muzmatch pops into the mind — plus it feels as though a clear, non-taboo thing to do,” he states. “I always think Muslims are five years behind the conventional, particularly when it comes down to technology. Now it is time in order for them to get caught up.”