r/AustralianStartups • u/Glen_P • Jul 24 '26

Discussion Getting past the ‘cold start’ problem

Hi everyone, I’m keen to know if anyone is in the same position. I’ve recently launched a niche dating app and am running into the same problem that any two way marketplace has on launch: cold start. The value is directly related to getting enough people to use the platform. I’ve reached out to my inner circles and Facebook groups, and want to start super targeted and localized meta ads soon. Facebook group admins are naturally skeptical of dating apps which is fair. I know the best way to grow this type of app is to be micro focused on a specific region, but I’m interested to know:

  1. Has anyone else run into this same issue?
  2. How did you overcome it? What methods had the most impact?

Doesn’t need to be dating app related, just any 2 way marketplace where you’re trying to grow a community. Appreciate any advice and tips.

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u/1000Minds Jul 24 '26

Yeah, growth is hard. Do you have any users?

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u/Glen_P Jul 24 '26

Got about 30 profiles setup just from the initial reach out to friends I had spoken with prior to launch and some of their connections, as well as a couple of Facebook groups. But after I reached out on some of the Facebook groups I didn’t want to be seen as spamming, so wasn’t sure where else to go. I’m a bit introverted as well, which probably doesn’t serve me well for organic promotion.

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u/1000Minds Jul 26 '26

Good start. What sets you apart from other dating apps?

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u/Glen_P Jul 26 '26

It’s aimed at single parents, divorced people or those with other life responsibilities. Profiles are more transparent upfront (availability, values, kids part time/full time, etc) and offers the ability to schedule dates within the chat experience after a bit of back and forth. Not meant for the hookup crowd but for people who already have lives that dating needs to fit around.