Safety in Technology

Julie Griggs and Danielle Dietzek are two New York-based healthcare professionals who were tired of the traditional online dating scene. They not only wanted to shake things up, but also to find a way to make online dating safer for women, and so Fourplay Social was born. Their dating app allows users to form datings teams, so friends can date together, creating a built in safety net for digital dates that don't necessarily goes as planned. Today the duo are continuing to build their app and navigate the new world of being a female entrepreneur in tech, working with your best friend. Griggs & Dietzek’s story, as told to The Story Exchange 1,000+ Stories Project: Fourplay is a free dating app in Apple and Google Play Stores that shakes up the online dating scene by giving single friends the chance to form dating teams so they have a more fun, less awkward, and safer way of finding romance. As a team, friends browse, match, and go out with other duos. In order to match on Fourplay, all four members have to indicate they're interested in connecting. Once everyone approves, a group chat is opened where the teams can get to know each other and make plans to meet up. We're two healthcare professionals who met nine years ago when we were sorority sisters at Penn State University. As young, single, professional women we were tired of going on dates with strangers we knew little about. We wanted to make the experience of online dating more enjoyable for everyone. Aside from being a more fun way of dating, Fourplay makes dating safer, especially for women. You're always bringing an extra set of eyes along on your dates. You never have to worry about your drink being spiked when you use the bathroom, or how you're going to end the date if things get uncomfortable. You have your escape plan built in on your Fourplay date. Success, to us, is being happy with what you do and with who you are. It's waking up in the morning excited to start your day and going to sleep each night knowing you've done something to help make a difference. Success is being proud of yourself that you have set out to accomplish something, and that you have done it. Our biggest success to date has been continuing to work full-time as healthcare professionals while also working full-time as Fourplay executives. In less than one year we were able to build and launch this dating app. Throughout the experience we have remained best friends who support and love one another and continue to put our friendship before our business. As first time entrepreneurs, our main goals are brand awareness and user acquisition. We hope to really shake up the online dating scene by giving people a more fun and safer way to date. Our top challenge was that we had zero business experience going into this adventure. We remained open-minded and open to feedback. We utilize every resource we have and take feedback seriously. We took the initiative to teach ourselves about business concepts we knew nothing about. It is such an accomplishment to look back and recognize how much we have learned in less than one year. Two best friends going into business together definitely has its challenges. We promised each other from the very beginning we would always put our friendship first. We remain completely open and honest with each other, we are receptive to each other's feedback, and we have both learned that it's okay to share the decision-making power. Our most important role models are our parents. We are incredibly blessed to have four loving and supportive parents. They believe in us and in our business and have showed us what it means to work hard in order to achieve your goals. Website www.fourplaysocial.com Twitter @fourplaysocial Facebook www.facebook.com/fourplaysocial Instagram @fourplaysocial Share your story!

Safety in Technology

Their Dating App is Creating a Safer Environment for Women

The Story Exchange

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