Hey There has been on the scene for a bit, but now, the dating app has some new features and plans for improving the world of online dating.

Co-founder Kevin Trainor described the app as “online dating with friends helping you make the best matches. It’s a social network and dating app.”

“You download the app and use a Facebook login. We don’t share any information on Facebook,” Trainor said. “Once you’re signed in, you choose what role you are: a single person looking for matches or a friend of someone doing so. You create a profile, including photos, buddy up with friends, and as a single person, those friends become your ‘wingperson’  and help you find your best matches!”

These friends can coach and guide you to make the best matches and also help you in the chat functionality once you’ve matched. It’s like a virtual wingperson!

Trainor and his co-founder Todd Staples, along with two engineers, created the app. Trainor himself wasn’t always in the tech world but has always had great experience in and passion for business and entrepreneurship. “After being involved in a couple startups, I wanted to pursue my own ventures,” he said. “I self-taught a lot of the technology side of things and have a business background, which helped when it came to Hey There.”

Hey There was founded in October 2014 after extensive research, whiteboard sessions and development. “We spent the next couple of years in development, with a lot of QA testing. For a simple app, it wasn’t a simple build,” Trainor added.

Trainor and his team’s intention initially wasn’t to get into online dating. “We were looking to develop an app that was more group-based, similar in the idea of social media and friends participating, but not dating,” Trainor said. “However, we started witnessing our friends go through dating struggles and thought our concept was perfect for finding a solution for this.”

Although others said the space was crowded, Trainor and his team knew they had something special. “We felt that we could improve the space with innovation and meet the needs of people. We learned how online dating is changing. It is more social now that it’s not taboo,” he said.

Along with the beta version of the app, which launched in June 2016 to iPhone users, Trainor and his team created a Facebook group. “We created this group and it built up along the way. It allowed us to interact with members and users and get feedback on the app,” he said.

The full launch of the app was in July of this year to both iPhone and Android users, and it’s been going strong ever since. “This has taught me to never give up on your ideas,” Trainor said.

Trainor is excited for the future of Hey There and online dating. “The biggest problem with online dating is fraudulent accounts. We have technology coming out in the next few months that when two people buddy up, there will be a social verification that will provide badges indicating that the account is verified and legitimate,” Trainor said. “If people see that there is verification, they will take it more seriously. It’s a way to leverage friends to curate better matches.”

Trainor hopes that Hey There will continue to grow and meet the needs of those looking to make real connections with real people. “This app is an opportunity for us to make a difference in people’s lives,” he said.

For more information, visit heythere.us.

-Rachel SHUSTER