Meet Heather Hopkins of Graze in West Hollywood

Heather, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
In 2018, I conceived the idea for Graze. I had been spending time chatting with app matches for days and sometimes months, then finally meeting in person, only to figure out that it wasn’t a good fit within the first 5 minutes of conversation. I ran randomized focus groups in Uber Pools to figure out what real people wanted from dating apps, and I found that many of their complaints were similar: wasted resources, catfishing issues, awkward or unsafe first meetings, and endless texting. I was also able to draw inspiration from audience input on my dating podcast “The Hookup”. I quickly realized that implementing a required video date at the onset of “matching” is the most effective and fun way to address their concerns. Since launching in March this year, now patent-pending Graze is leading the way in Secure Video Dating. I hope to rewrite the online dating equation by bringing users Face to Face first after matching and then, after determining chemistry, giving them the option to chat.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Entrepreneurship is a roller coaster. ⁣I have been putting my blood, sweat, and tears into this project for years; I left my career, went through almost my entire life savings, and have had to work through pressures no average 23 year old deals with. However, when I hear the stories of Graze users, it makes it all worth it. Users will call me after a Video Chat all giddy and smiling from ear to ear, gushing about the date they just had. Some have shared that they never did well on other dating apps, but on Graze they’ve been way more successful because users get to see their personality and not just their picture. It is clear to me this is how online dating should be. No question about it. None of the games and time wasting, but instead a focus on personality and heart. This is why I do what I do, no matter how much of a roller coaster being an entrepreneur is. ⁣I may not fit the mold of a stereotypical CEO, but I want to inspire others that they don’t have to either.

Please tell us about Graze.
I am the Founder and CEO of Graze. Graze’s mission is to be the number one reason that online dating results in more meaningful relationships, all while eliminating the frustrating challenges that online dating comes with: wasted time, money, energy, and as of recently, the apprehension of meeting anyone in person. Graze is the first Video-Based Dating App. After matching, instead of spending endless time chatting only to go on a disappointing date, users will spend 5 minutes or less on a Video Chat to find out if there is chemistry and a dynamic worth exploring in person. We include this 5 minute limit on your first Video Chat with a match because we believe you can figure out if there is chemistry in that time, and if not, then there is a capped amount of time you are spending with this match with zero chemistry. Additionally, Graze provides a “Cheat Sheet” and an “Ask Me About” section for easy access throughout the Video Chat to ensure a seamless and comfortable conversation. For Safety reasons, the app has a 3-second video verification (where the user introduces themselves by name into the camera). This eliminates the risk of catfishing and ensures users are more comfortable knowing that the person they are about to Video Chat with is an accurate reflection of their profile. By requiring Face to Face video first communication, Graze replicates as close to meeting in person as possible. Graze mirrors the closest way our parents met: They saw each other, talked Face to Face, got each other’s numbers, and set up a date to further their connection. I am most proud that I am bringing my generation back to being forced to connect Face to Face, even if it is through the phone! With Graze, messaging seems so yesterday 😉

If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I believe everything, good and bad, has been a crucial ingredient to where Graze is today, and who I am today. If we were to make one simple change, things could be completely different. I have learned SO many lessons and have grown and matured so much as a businesswoman. I always say that I want Graze to feel like your friend. I created it with the intention to be a place where everyone feels welcomed and safe to be themselves. We aren’t perfect, but we will always try our absolute hardest to give users the best, most secure, and fun video dating experience.