For Immediate Release: New York, NY, February 12th, 2025 – BYND, Inc.
Beyond is a new social club for modern relationships — defined as honest, intentional and inclusive of all relationship styles — now available on iOS and Android. Today they announce their public launch, backed by advisors from Hinge, Bumble, Lex, and Tumblr.
What makes Beyond unique is its vetted community and open-minded audience. Everyone must apply to join, and each application is reviewed by a team member. Applicants are assessed to ensure they are who they say they are and that they align with Beyond’s values. Beyond uses a rubric based on the core values of (1) honesty & intention, (2) consent, (3) diversity, and (4) self-discovery.
In addition to the vetting, Beyond’s Communities features set it apart. “As we launched our beta, it became very clear that people wanted the IRL component and that’s why we launched our first iteration of happenings in the form of Featured Groups.” Says Beyond CEO Eric Waldstein. “Every week, we drop new happenings in local cities — many of them created by our members — where people can connect both digitally and IRL.”
This early Communities prototype allows members to connect beyond the typical one-to-one swiping format. Members can request to feature their own parties and happenings, host in-app AMA’s (ask me anything), and create affinity group chats like “Queer/Open,” which was started by one of Beyond’s celebrity Founding Members. This prototype is just the beginning of Beyond’s vision for Communities, as they build for dating and connection in the post-swipe era.
Beyond also hosts its own events for members to connect. Branded parties take place every 1-2 months in New York and Los Angeles, and last year, Beyond prototyped a retreat with glowing reviews. They are gearing up for round two in March.
In a world increasingly driven by algorithms and artificial intelligence, Beyond strives to foster authentic human connection. “As the world becomes increasingly artificial, demand for authenticity will soar,” says Waldstein. “We’re not looking for our person anymore, we’re looking for our people, and that’s really where the magic is. For years, platforms have optimized for engagement at all costs. But as we become more aware of how these systems manipulate our attention, we’re seeing a shift toward more intentional, curated experiences…The platforms that win in the next era of social media will be the ones that give people something they can’t get from an algorithm.”
During their beta Beyond executed a grassroots growth strategy in New York and Los Angeles. The goal was to build an authentic community, validate the need, and solidify the tech. They’ve done that and are now ready to scale. Beyond currently has 5,000 members in NY and LA, with 10,000 applications—all driven by word-of-mouth and their Founding Member program. Beyond plans to expand nationally and internationally by 2026.
Beyond is available on iOS and Android as a free download, with premium features that can be unlocked through a subscription plan. For more information and to download the app, visit www.datebeyond.co.
Media Contact:
Eric Waldstein, CEO
319-231-3657
About Beyond
Beyond is a social club for modern relationships.
Our GTM was through a dating app for monogamish people. We learned in beta that the future of connection is in community and modern relationships. We discovered a massive untapped market for community-enabled connections. Our beta is live in the App Store and Google Play Store
The Opportunity
