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Justin McLeod, the CEO of the popular dating app Hinge, has an interesting story behind the app’s creation. A young entrepreneur and Harvard Business School student, McLeod set out to create a dating app that would eventually become one of the most popular in English-speaking countries, second only to Tinder. With over 14 million users as of 2023, Hinge has made a significant impact in the world of online dating.
But the journey to success was not easy for McLeod. In the early days of the app’s development, he faced challenges in attracting users to sign up. Traditional online dating methods were cumbersome, and the concept of swiping on a phone to find a potential partner was still relatively new. To overcome this obstacle, McLeod resorted to creative methods of luring users, including offering them KitKats as an incentive to try out the app.
Recalling his early days of promoting Hinge, McLeod reminisces about running around college libraries and offering KitKats to students in exchange for trying out the app. These efforts resulted in only a few users signing up each day, but it was a start for McLeod.
Launching Hinge required McLeod to “beg and borrow a lot,” as he put it. He networked extensively, talked to as many people as possible, and even collected funds from those willing to invest in his vision. Despite facing numerous challenges, McLeod’s perseverance paid off when he landed a position at McKinsey, a prestigious consulting firm.
While some might have been content with a high-paying job at McKinsey, McLeod made the bold decision to turn down the offer and focus on building Hinge. His passion for the app and desire to see it succeed drove him to pursue entrepreneurship over a secure corporate job. This decision eventually led to Match Group acquiring Hinge in 2015, marking a significant milestone in McLeod’s entrepreneurial journey.
Today, as the CEO of Hinge, McLeod oversees a multi-million dollar business that continues to grow and thrive. His success story serves as an inspiration to young entrepreneurs, particularly those in Generation Z, who are increasingly drawn to the idea of starting their own businesses rather than pursuing traditional career paths.
Offering advice to aspiring entrepreneurs, McLeod emphasizes the importance of balancing idealism with practicality. He highlights the need to dream big while also being attentive to the daily realities of running a business. For those unsure of their career path after graduation, McLeod encourages them to take action and start working towards their goals, whether that involves launching a company or entering the workforce.
By sharing his own experiences and insights, McLeod hopes to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs to pursue their passions, take calculated risks, and build successful businesses. His story is a testament to the power of determination, vision, and hard work in achieving entrepreneurial success.
