BARE Dating is a new dating app with a difference. It’s sex-positive, open-minded, but a safe space for people who want to explore their relationships, their sexuality, and theirselves.
Founded by Alex Sergent, Gillian Myhill and Phil Beesley, the inspiration for the dating app came from a personal journey, with Alex realising that there wasn’t too much on offer that allows you to feel safe, experimental and to explore yourself.
Gillian adds: ‘I came into this as a third founder; what I bought to the team was a practical experience. Previously, I had worked with some successful entrepreneurs, specifically on brand development. I guess, for me personally, I’ve had pretty much every different kind of relationship in the past. I’m bisexual, I lived in a polyamorous relationship, my first with a married couple. Most recently, I had another partner and we again had women join us. I’ve had every kind of relationship; but I’ve also experienced the really ugly sides of relationships.
‘So I’m bringing the female side to the app; and the understanding of what any relationship entails.’
Gillian feels there’s been a rise of acceptance and that it’s important to understand that there are a variety of different relationships. And BARE wants to give a safe space for people to explore a spectrum of relationships.
“We cover all angles. BARE isn’t about one thing. It’s about every type of relationship. We cater to all. We encourage people to explore something different — and there wasn’t something out there like that”, adds Alex.
But with BARE, safety is paramount. The team understand that people using the app may want to send nude photos, but BARE is a platform that both embraces this and holds it back — by offering a feature where you can show as much or as little as you like. It’s all about feeling comfortable.
BARE has also added a new technology that allows the app to identify nudity, so that it’s not allowed on any main images.
Alex says: “It’s about providing the safety to do that, to be free to explore. People like the fact that you can do what you want. It’s your body your rules — but it’s also dating for the open-minded, because people want to explore. But they also want to do it knowing that people are real — which we do with our new technology.
“If you don’t look old enough, we ask for your Government ID. This has taken two-and-a-half years, but we’re so proud.”
What BARE is doing is allowing people to explore within their own safespace. With their unique idea, more than 10,000 people have already signed up.
They realise that dating apps are an oversaturated market — which is why they’re bringing new angle, which the general consumer has been crying out for for years.
Alex says: “It’s about having fun, we’ve built a huge community who have pledged to be a part of the journey. To be frankly honest; our app is less about finding love and more about finding connection, and having an experience.”
Though the app is live, BARE is set to officially launch in April.
Alex continues: “It’s been a long journey. This app is game-changing. It’s been an amazing process.”
Gillian adds: “My advice to people is that you need to find a certain app or platform that works for you. My friends have various apps. I think it’s difficult to create a platform like this, to market it, in any specific way. For example, people might meet on other dating apps and get married, or just shag. It comes down to the individuals.
“It comes down to connection. Trying to market yourself as a specific app targeted at a specific audience is a difficult thing to do.”
Alex says that “BARE is BARE”. The team calls it the ‘blurring magic’, because you’re in full control of what you show. “You have fun revealing it”, adds Alex. “It’s for people who want to explore — both other people, and themselves.”
BARE Dating has created an app unlike any other dating app, with its unique reveal process, its choices to present as serious, casual or looking for fun, its safety features to make sure everyone using the app is old enough, and its quick unmatching options.
Another difference with BARE is that the team is so passionate about building a community.
Gillian adds: “We listen to people. We implement their feedback. We have blogs. We’ve done podcasts. We’re so open to listening. There’s a unique opportunity where you have the founders open to criticism — and we listen, and take things into serious consideration.”
Alex continues: “In terms of BARE itself, the unique thing is the community — we’re pushing out a YouTube channel, our podcast, events. We want people to feel like they’re a part of something. Something different.”
Gillian says BARE have been through a lot together. With any start-up, you go through a range of emotions.
“There have been times where it’s been tough”, she says. “You start with something, and the product and relationships end up being quite different to where you start. But you’re also stronger for it.”
BARE hopes that people will see the app as a journey; a community of people ready to explore in a safe space.
Alex concludes: “If people want to come on a journey of finding yourself and exploring yourself, then come and join our ride”.
