E359 Brittnee Barnes: It's Time For a Vybe Check

One of the biggest (of many!) frustrations with dating apps today is something most people know well: you match with someone who has a great profile, the texting is solid, and then you meet in person and realize there’s simply no chemistry. That exact disconnect inspired Brittnee Barnes, founder and CEO + Co-Founder of Vybes, to build the platform.Vybes is designed to help users understand that chemistry before committing to a first date through a feature called the Vybe Check, a quick in-app face-to-face call that lets people experience someone’s real voice, energy, and personality before meeting offline. The platform also takes a more curated approach to dating. Vybes is application-based, verifies users through IDs and social accounts, and offers exclusive in-person events so members can connect beyond the screen.The company also launched Vybes Villa, a creator-led reality dating series that blends dating culture with unscripted storytelling. The first season, which launched earlier this year generated hundreds of thousands of views per episode, driving 50,000+ new applications to be submitted, 47% of new users are completing a Vybe Check within their first week on the app, and 2,000 users have already applied for Season 2.