Episode 58

How TrulyMadly Took on Tinder & Built a 100 Crore Dating App in India | Snehil Khanor - E57 Part II

Published on: 12th May, 2025

In this episode, we sit down with the founder of TrulyMadly, India's most trusted dating app, to explore the startup journey, fundraising pitfalls, growth hacks, and how TrulyMadly is solving the trust problem in Indian online dating.

We dive deep into:

- Competing with global giants like Tinder and Bumble.

- How compatibility scores and trust-based algorithms changed the game.

- The dark side of fake profiles and how TrulyMadly tackled it.

- Fundraising regrets and the decision to stay profitable.

- Building a brand people actually trust in a highly sensitive market.


Whether you’re a founder, product builder, or just curious about the business of love.This episode is packed with insights. Watch the full episode on  @FundsAndFounders 


Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro

01:23 - The European backpacking trip that changed everything

03:39 - Early career: From payments to dating

06:35 - Building a product for Indian singles

09:03 - How TrulyMadly started

12:10 - Solving the dating trust problem in India

15:12 - TrulyMadly vs Tinder: What makes us different

17:30 - Revenue vs Users: The real startup pivot

20:02 - Fundraising mistakes & hard lessons

22:25 - Branding, logo, and product-market fit

25:47 - Compatibility scoring & TrulyMadly algorithm

28:10 - Marriage success stories from TrulyMadly

30:17 - Why TrulyMadly charges users (and why it works)

33:50 - Dealing with fake reviews and app store ratings

36:04 - The importance of frugal innovation

39:00 - Final thoughts, rapid fire & what’s next

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About the Podcast

Funds and Founders: Untold Journeys Behind Their Breakthroughs
Welcome to "Funds & Founders: Untold Journeys Behind Their Breakthroughs," where we dig deep into the stories of successful Austin founders. Instead of focusing on their successes though, we dive into their journeys, particularly the struggles and obstacles they had to overcome.

This weekly podcast is tailored for Austin founders navigating the early stages of their entrepreneurial journey and hosted by fellow Austinite Abhinav Sinha. Here’s what to expect by tuning into Funds & Founders:

🚀 Embark on a Journey to Success
Join Abhinav as he takes you behind the scenes, exploring the highs and lows of building a company. This isn't your typical success story – we dive into the failures, the struggles, and those pivotal breakthrough moments that define a founder's path.

🌟 Real Conversations, Real Insights
Abhinav's approach is refreshingly different. Rather than dwelling on success, he crafts casual conversations that unravel the untold stories. Identify the setbacks that helped them grow, the lessons learned from failures, and the breakthrough moments that fueled these founders.

🤔 Why Didn't They Quit? Learn and Apply.
At the heart of each episode, Abhinav delves into the 'why' behind the perseverance. Why didn't they throw in the towel during tough times? And, most importantly, how can you apply their insights to your own journey? Get ready to be inspired and equipped with practical takeaways for your entrepreneurial adventure.

🤝 Decoding Venture Capital
Ever wondered what goes on in the minds of Austin's venture capitalists? Abhinav sits down with local VCs to decode their criteria for investing in early-stage companies. Gain valuable insights into the world of venture capital, understand what investors look for, and appreciate the vital factor of founder-investor compatibility.

🎙️ Meet Your Host, Abhinav Sinha:
Abhinav's soft-spoken yet inquisitive style creates an intimate atmosphere, allowing guests to share their authentic stories. His genuine curiosity and insightful questions make each episode a captivating journey into the minds of Austin's most successful founders.

If you're a budding Austin entrepreneur seeking the inspiration and insight needed for building a successful company, "Funds & Founders" is your go-to podcast.