The pool of mobile dating apps is hardly shallow.
There are new versions flooding the market on what seems like a daily basis. Some
stick, some don't. (Hey, they can’t all be the next Tinder.) But, there’s one
recently launched app that leaves a lot of folks with questions — and mixed
feelings.
The League is a San Francisco-based app founded by recent Stanford business grad Amanda Bradford that basically works
as the Soho House of dating. Aimed at local elites hoping to land a power-couple-like situation, it welcomes new members through referrals or invites them via an algorithm (which scans social sites like LinkedIn) that inspects
pedigree markers like collegiate and professional background.
According to Business Insider, The League has already received $2.1 million in
seed funding and has around 4,500 users in beta. While Bradford claims the
selection process is similar to that applied to school or job
applications, many argue that it fosters a pompous environment, too structured around class and social status. The app sends out five potential matches a day. If none strikes a chord, the user will just have to wait until the next day's batch.
We tapped a few S.F. women to get their thoughts on the app, and the response was mixed.
Emily Slessinger, VP of brand development at a popular start-up, says, "It’s hard enough to date in S.F., so I’m willing to give anything a
try. I...have zero free time, and therefore am very selective about how and
with whom I spend time with. I’m not sure I would ever apply to The League — as the Marina and Pac Heights crowd isn’t my scene — but I can’t argue with a curated selection and possible fast track to dating
success."