Who Owns Feeld?

• Parent Company: Feeld
• Ownership Type: Wholly owned
• Company Type: Publicly Traded

• Founded: 2014
• Founders: Dimo Trifonov

• Founded: 2014
• Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
• Company Type: Publicly Traded
• Revenue: not publicly disclosed
• Employees: Approximately 100

Visit Feeld website

• Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
• Manufacturing / Operations: United Kingdom (headquarters and primary engineering), Remote-first distributed team globally

Feeld operates with a strong commitment to ethical practices, privacy protection, and social impact, positioning itself as a progressive technology company that prioritizes user safety, inclusivity, and responsible data management in the dating app industry.

Privacy Protection and Data Security: Following serious security vulnerabilities discovered in 2024, Feeld took immediate action to address concerns about data protection. The company worked with cybersecurity experts to resolve issues that could have allowed unauthorized access to user messages, private photos, and sensitive personal information. Feeld maintains that it does not sell user data, with CEO Ana Kirova emphasizing the sacred and private nature of information users share about their sexuality and expression. The company has implemented enhanced security measures to protect user privacy and prevent unauthorized data access or manipulation.

Inclusive Platform Design: Feeld demonstrates exceptional commitment to inclusivity with over 20 sexuality and gender options available in-app, making it one of the most inclusive dating platforms on the market. The platform creates a safer space for people to explore their curiosities outside traditional relationship blueprints and find meaningful human connections of all kinds. Feeld's design philosophy challenges cultural scripts around gender, sexuality, and dating on a global scale, fostering acceptance of diverse relationship structures and identities.

Remote-First Sustainable Operations: Since its inception, Feeld has pioneered a remote-first work model with a globally distributed team, reducing the environmental impact associated with traditional office operations. This approach supports sustainable business practices while enabling access to global talent and reducing the company's carbon footprint. The remote-first model aligns with modern sustainability principles by eliminating daily commutes and office energy consumption.

Social Impact and Community Building: Feeld's mission extends beyond commercial success to create positive social impact by providing a platform for ethical non-monogamy and alternative relationship exploration. The app serves communities that have historically been underserved by mainstream dating platforms, contributing to greater social acceptance and understanding of diverse relationship structures. Feeld's State of Dating reports, conducted in partnership with academic institutions like the Kinsey Institute, explore how digital platforms can foster safer intimacy, particularly for marginalized communities.

Ethical Business Practices: As a privately owned company, Feeld operates without pressure from public markets to compromise on its values. The company's leadership has maintained focus on user safety, community authenticity, and platform development rather than pursuing growth at any cost. This independence allows Feeld to prioritize ethical considerations and user welfare over short-term financial gains, supporting sustainable business practices that align with its progressive mission.

Feeld has achieved significant recognition as a pioneering platform for ethical non-monogamy and alternative relationships, with notable achievements in technology innovation, market growth, and cultural impact that validate its unique approach to dating and relationships.

Financial Growth and Market Success: Feeld reported soaring revenues and profits in 2024, nearly doubling turnover to £395 million as millions of downloads came from non-monogamous, queer, and kinky users worldwide. This financial success represents recognition of the platform's ability to capture and serve a growing market for alternative relationship structures that mainstream dating apps have overlooked. The company's profitable growth under CEO Ana Kirova's leadership demonstrates the commercial viability of niche, values-driven dating applications.

Cultural Recognition and Media Coverage: Feeld has received extensive media recognition for its innovative approach to dating and relationships. Major publications including The Guardian and WIRED have featured the platform, with articles highlighting its role in challenging traditional dating norms and fostering greater acceptance of alternative relationship structures. The app has been praised for its progressive mindset and its contribution to cultural conversations around sexuality, gender, and relationship diversity.

Technology Innovation Awards: Feeld has been recognized for its technological innovation in the dating app space, particularly for its comprehensive approach to gender and sexuality options. The platform's design, which allows users to explore and express their identities authentically, has been acknowledged as a significant advancement in inclusive technology. The app's remote-first work model and globally distributed team have also been recognized as innovative approaches to modern business operations.

Academic Partnerships and Research: Feeld's collaboration with academic institutions like the University of Leeds' Centre for Love, Sex and Relationships (CLSR) demonstrates recognition of its value as a subject of academic research. The State of Dating reports, conducted with academic partners, explore the role of digital platforms in fostering safer intimacy and understanding of modern relationship dynamics. These partnerships validate Feeld's contribution to important social and cultural research.

Industry Leadership Recognition: As a first-mover in the ethical non-monogamy dating space, Feeld has established itself as the leading platform for alternative relationship structures. The company's success has inspired other dating applications to become more inclusive and to consider serving diverse user communities beyond traditional monogamous dating. Feeld's market position and growth trajectory have been recognized as evidence of the commercial viability of niche, values-driven technology companies.

Feeld has faced significant challenges related to data security vulnerabilities and user community tensions, though no product recalls have been issued. The company has worked to address these issues while navigating the complexities of serving diverse user communities with evolving expectations.

2024 Security Vulnerabilities: In September 2024, London-based cybersecurity firm Fortbridge discovered serious security failings in Feeld's systems that could have exposed sensitive user data. The vulnerabilities included the ability to read other people's messages in chats, access and edit attachments, view private photos and videos, and even change profile information without proper authorization. These issues were particularly concerning given the sensitive nature of user data on a platform focused on sexuality and alternative relationships.

Data Access and Manipulation Risks: Fortbridge researchers found that hackers with basic technical knowledge could exploit the vulnerabilities to access time-limited photos and videos that were meant to self-delete after one viewing, potentially retrieving and viewing them indefinitely. The security firm also identified the ability to delete chats and then recover them, as well as manually force one profile to "like" another. These security flaws put a significant number of users at risk due to the sensitive nature of the content shared on the platform.
Community Tension Over Platform Evolution: As Feeld has grown and marketed to a wider audience under CEO Ana Kirova's leadership since 2021, some veteran users have expressed concerns about the platform's changing focus. Long-time users who joined Feeld when it was primarily focused on kink and ENM/poly lifestyles have noted that the app's expansion into mainstream dating has created tensions within the community. Some users have described the platform as "normie hell" as it has attracted users seeking more traditional dating experiences.
User Experience Challenges: Community feedback on platforms like Reddit indicates that some users struggle with the platform's effectiveness, with reports of low response rates to messages and difficulty finding meaningful connections. These challenges reflect broader issues in the online dating space rather than specific failures by Feeld, but they impact user satisfaction and retention as the platform competes with both niche and mainstream dating applications.
Rapid Response and Resolution: Feeld addressed the security vulnerabilities "as a matter of urgency" and resolved them within two months of being notified by Fortbridge in March 2024. The company stated that it had not seen evidence that user data had been breached and worked to implement enhanced security measures. This rapid response demonstrated the company's commitment to protecting user privacy and maintaining trust in the platform.

Ongoing Security Commitment: Following the 2024 incidents, Feeld has continued to prioritize security improvements and works with cybersecurity experts to identify and address potential vulnerabilities. The company's transparent handling of the security issues and its commitment to protecting user data have helped maintain user trust despite the serious nature of the discovered vulnerabilities.