Hily is owned by Hily Corp., a privately held company founded in 2017 by Alex Pasykov, Dmytro Kononov, and Jake Vygnan. Headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, Hily operates independently and is not publicly traded. The app has 40 million registered users and generates approximately $24 million in annual revenue as of 2026.
Parent Company
Hily
Founded
2017
Status
Private
Headquarters
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| Hily | Hily | Wholly owned |
Alex Pasykov founded Hily in 2017 with co-founders Dmytro Kononov and Jake Vygnan. The name is an acronym for "Hey, I Like You." Pasykov's background in analytics and statistical modeling shaped the app's data-driven approach to matching, which prioritizes shared interests and behavioral patterns over geographic proximity and physical appearance alone.
The app launched in August 2017. By October 2017, Hily had 35,000 users in closed beta. Growth accelerated through a partnership with Snapchat, which drove user acquisition among younger demographics. Hily expanded internationally to the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Japan, and Mexico. The United States became the app's largest market.
By August 2019, Hily had more than 5 million active users. By 2023, the parent company reported offices in Las Vegas, London, and Kyiv, approximately 600 employees across its applications, and about 28 million registered Hily users, according to Wikipedia.
Hily has been ranked among the five highest-grossing dating applications in the United States by Sensor Tower in both 2024 and 2025. In January 2026, Global Dating Insights reported that Hily was the third most-downloaded dating application in the United States.
In 2025, Hily introduced Consent Guard, a feature that uses machine learning to detect sexually explicit text and images and withholds them until both users indicate consent to view such content. The feature replaced an earlier Explicit Filter and was covered by KLAS 8 News Now, FOX40 News, and PHL17. In June 2025, Hily introduced a "manchild-free" profile label, released alongside Sabrina Carpenter's song "Manchild." The label allows users to indicate a preference in their profiles and does not affect matching or filtering.
Hily has commissioned surveys on dating and relationship trends, with results cited by Fast Company, The Hill, USA Today, Vice, and Newsweek. A 2025 survey cited by The Hill reported that a majority of Generation Z and millennial respondents had experienced a workplace crush, while approximately one-third said they would consider leaving a job to pursue a relationship with a colleague.
In 2025, Hily partnered with OpenFortune on a promotional campaign in Los Angeles that distributed dating-themed fortune cookies. The campaign referenced survey findings that 48 percent of surveyed American women had checked astrological compatibility before dating.
As of December 2025, Hily crossed 40 million registered users, according to a LinkedIn post by Liubomyr Pivtorak. The company reported that first-day retention grew by approximately 10% and dialogues increased 25% year-over-year in 2025.
What does Hily own?
Hily owns and operates a single product: the Hily AI-powered dating application, available on iOS and Android. The platform includes AI-driven matching algorithms, a risk score safety system, video calling, and compatibility analysis features. The company does not operate multiple apps or a diversified portfolio of digital products.
Is Hily publicly traded?
No, Hily is not publicly traded. The company operates as a privately held entity with no stock exchange listing. Hily has not announced any public offering plans and has maintained its independence without publicly disclosed external investment.
Who founded Hily?
Hily was founded in 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada by Yan Pronin and Alex Pasykov. The company launched its dating application in July 2017 with a focus on AI-driven compatibility matching as an alternative to swipe-based dating apps.
Where is Hily headquartered?
Hily is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. The company operates its platform globally, serving users across North America, Europe, and other international markets including the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Japan, and Mexico.
How many users does Hily have?
Hily claims around 22 million registered users with roughly 6 million active members globally as of 2026. The platform has grown significantly since its 2017 launch through its AI-powered matching approach and focus on meaningful connections.
Who owns Hily?
Hily is a privately held company with no publicly disclosed parent organization or external investors. The company has not announced any venture capital or private equity funding rounds. Co-founders Yan Pronin and Alex Pasykov are understood to hold significant ownership stakes, though the company has not published details of its ownership structure.
What is Hily's revenue?
Hily does not publicly disclose its financial results. Third-party business intelligence estimates place the company's annual revenue between $5 million and $25 million. The company generates revenue primarily through premium subscriptions ranging from $24.99 per week to $119.99 annually, plus in-app purchases.
Hily does not hold formal sustainability certifications such as B Corp status or Fair Trade certification. As a software company, its environmental footprint is limited to cloud infrastructure and remote office operations.
The company has focused its ethical efforts on user safety and algorithmic transparency. In 2025, Hily introduced Consent Guard, a machine learning feature that detects sexually explicit text and images and withholds them until both users indicate consent. This feature was covered by multiple news outlets including KLAS 8 News Now, FOX40 News, and PHL17.
Hily uses profile verification, AI-powered content moderation, and human review to identify fake accounts and harassment. The app implements a "risk score" system that evaluates profiles based on verification status, user complaints, and activity metrics. Users can block, report, and control their interactions.
The company complies with GDPR and CCPA data protection regulations. Hily provides users with privacy controls and information about how their data is used for matching algorithms.
Hily has not published a formal environmental sustainability report. The company's distributed workforce across 13 countries reduces commuting-related emissions, but no specific carbon footprint data has been disclosed.
Hily has not been subject to product recalls or regulatory enforcement actions as of August 2026. The app operates as a standard mobile application without physical products.
Like all dating apps, Hily faces ongoing challenges with fake profiles, catfishing, and user safety. The company has responded with profile verification systems, AI-powered detection of fake accounts, and the Consent Guard feature for explicit content. However, maintaining complete protection against fake profiles remains an ongoing challenge.
Hily has faced general criticism common to dating apps regarding subscription model pressures. Users have expressed frustration with limitations on free features and the cost of premium subscriptions. Hily has adjusted its pricing structure and added more value to free features in response.
In 2025, the company underwent internal restructuring. According to a LinkedIn post by Liubomyr Pivtorak, Hily "had to realign teams, processes, and priorities" with some "negative short-term effects" before seeing improvements in retention and engagement. This restructuring reduced the team from approximately 600 employees across multiple applications to approximately 36 people focused on the core Hily app.
No data breaches, privacy violations, or regulatory enforcement actions have been publicly reported for Hily as of August 2026.
These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.
| Brand | Parent Company | Country | Founded | Market Position | Primary Market | Gender Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bumble Inc | United States | 2014 | Mass market | Global | All Genders | |
| Match Group | USA | 2012 | Mass market | Global | All-ages | |
| Match Group | USA | 2023 | Premium | United states | Mens | |
| Bumble Inc | United Kingdom | 2006 | Mass market | Global | Unisex | |
| Coffee Meets Bagel | USA | 2012 | Premium | Global | All Genders | |
| Match Group | USA | 2012 | Mass market | Global | All Genders |
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Market Positioning: Hily competes with 6 brands in the same categories, ranging from mass market to luxury positioning.
Geographic Distribution: Competitors are headquartered across multiple regions, indicating global competition in this market segment.
Brand Heritage: Competitor brands range from established heritage brands to newer market entrants, with founding years spanning several decades.
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