Hily was founded in 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. According to third-party company databases, the company was founded by Yan Pronin, though the company has also been associated with other founding team members in various public descriptions. The company launched its dating application in August 2017, positioning it as an AI-driven alternative to swipe-based dating apps that had dominated the market since Tinder's launch in 2012.
The concept behind Hily emerged from a recognition that the dominant swipe-based model in dating apps prioritized physical appearance and geographic proximity over genuine compatibility. The founders sought to build a platform that used data science and behavioral analysis to surface matches with higher potential for meaningful connection, drawing on analytical approaches from recommendation systems used in other consumer technology products.
In its first two years, Hily grew its user base rapidly, reaching over 5 million active users by August 2019. The company expanded internationally during this period, launching in markets including the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Japan, and Mexico, establishing a presence across multiple continents within two years of its founding.
The platform introduced video calling features in 2020, responding to the significant shift in user behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic when in-person meetings became restricted and users sought digital alternatives for getting to know potential matches before meeting in person. This feature addition aligned with a broader trend across dating applications toward richer communication tools beyond text messaging.
Throughout the early 2020s, Hily continued developing its AI matching capabilities and safety infrastructure. The company's risk score system, which evaluates profiles using multiple behavioral and verification signals, was developed as a response to the widespread problem of fake profiles and harassment that affects many dating platforms.
As of early 2026, Hily operates as an independent private company. The company has not publicly announced any funding rounds, suggesting it has operated on a self-funded or bootstrapped basis, which is unusual for a technology company of its scale in the competitive dating application market.