Laila – A Date-First, AI-Powered Dating App
Client
Laila Dating Inc.
Category
SOCIAL NETWORKING
My Role
FOUNDING PRODUCT DESIGNER
Timeline
4 WEEKS
Most dating apps stop at matching—very few actually help people go on dates. We built Laila to solve this growing problem: users were tired of chatting without meeting. As founding product designer, I helped shape Laila into a date-first platform, using AI to recommend personalised, real-world date ideas to get people off apps and into meaningful experiences.
Key Outcomes
3,200+
sign-ups in the first 4 weeks after launch
41%
of active users scheduled at least one date via the app
68%
of users said Laila “made it easier to actually meet people, not just match”
AI-Powered Date Suggestions
Instead of endless scrolling, users were offered smart, tailored date ideas—powered by AI. By choosing a date that fit their mood and availability, they could match instantly with others who selected the same idea.
Real-World Intent as the Core Flow
We flipped the traditional flow: instead of matching first, users committed to a date idea and matched around that. This helped reduce drop-off and ghosting, and brought dating back to real-life connection.
Intent-Based Profile Signals
Profiles highlighted when users were free, their preferred date types (e.g. “coffee chat” or “gallery visit”), and comfort levels. This helped set clear expectations and made it easier to find the right kind of match quickly.
