
Hily
American privately held technology company operating an AI-powered dating application, founded in 2017 and headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Company Type
private
Founded
2017
Headquarters
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Primary Market
Global
About Hily
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. The name "Hily" is an acronym for "Hey, I Like You."
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 brands does Hily own?
Hily owns one brand: the Hily dating app. The company operates a single-product strategy, focusing all resources on its AI-powered dating platform. It does not own or operate any other brands or products.
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.
History of 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. The founders identified an opportunity to improve online dating by focusing on AI-powered compatibility matching rather than the superficial swipe-based approach popularized by Tinder.
The company's early development focused on building machine learning algorithms that could analyze user behavior, personality test results, and interaction patterns to create more meaningful matches. This technological approach differentiated Hily from competitors and attracted users seeking more substance-based dating experiences.
Hily has maintained its independence as a privately held company. The company has not announced venture capital funding rounds or private equity investments, distinguishing it from many technology startups that seek external growth capital. Hily's growth has been funded through operational revenue and founder investments.
The company has grown its user base to approximately 22 million registered users with approximately 6 million active members as of 2026. The platform has expanded internationally, serving users across multiple countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Japan, and Mexico.
Hily's product evolution has included the introduction of live photo verification to prevent scam accounts, icebreaker messages to facilitate conversations, and advanced filtering options for better compatibility matching. The company has maintained a lean operational structure with approximately 49-60 employees, focusing resources on core technology development and user experience rather than extensive marketing.
As of 2026, Hily remains an independent private company. It has not been acquired by a larger dating or technology company, which is notable in a market where consolidation is common (Match Group owns Tinder, Hinge, OkCupid, and others; Bumble owns Badoo and Fruitz).
Hily Sustainability & Ethics
Hily handles sensitive user data including behavioral patterns, communication content, location data, and personal preferences. The company states that it complies with GDPR, CCPA, and other applicable privacy regulations. The app's privacy policy is available on its website. However, Hily has not published independent third-party audits of its data practices.
User safety is a priority for Hily, as the platform serves users seeking romantic connections. The company has implemented live photo verification to prevent scam accounts, behavioral monitoring to detect inappropriate activity, and reporting mechanisms for user concerns. The platform includes a risk score safety system that assesses user profiles for potential safety risks.
Hily is not a Certified B Corporation. The company has not sought B Corp certification. Its social impact claims are self-reported and have not been independently verified by third-party certifying bodies.
On AI ethics, Hily uses machine learning algorithms to generate matches. The company has not published details about its algorithmic transparency, bias prevention measures, or fairness audits. Algorithmic bias in dating apps is an emerging area of regulatory and academic scrutiny, particularly regarding whether matching algorithms favor certain demographics or physical appearance characteristics.
Awards & Recognition
Hily has received limited public recognition from independent industry bodies. The company has not appeared on Forbes' lists, Fortune rankings, or comparable independent third-party recognition programs.
The app has been reviewed by dating industry publications including DatingScout, Tawkify, and LoveZoid, which have generally rated Hily positively for its AI-driven approach and safety features. These reviews should be distinguished from independent industry awards.
Hily has received recognition within the Las Vegas technology community as a successful independent startup. The company's growth to 22 million registered users without external venture capital funding is notable in the technology startup landscape.
Controversy, Regulation & Public Scrutiny
Hily has not faced major regulatory action, lawsuits, or public controversies. The company operates in a regulatory environment that includes data privacy, user safety, and consumer protection requirements, but no specific enforcement actions have been reported.
On data privacy, Hily handles sensitive user information including behavioral data, communication content, and location data. The company must comply with GDPR in Europe, CCPA in California, and other privacy regulations across its global user base. No specific privacy violations or data breaches have been publicly reported.
On user safety, Hily faces the same challenges as all dating apps: preventing scam accounts, harassment, and inappropriate behavior. The company has implemented live photo verification and risk score systems, but no dating app has eliminated safety risks entirely. No specific safety incidents or lawsuits related to Hily have been publicly reported.
On algorithmic fairness, Hily's AI matching algorithms could potentially favor certain demographics or physical appearance characteristics. The company has not published details about bias prevention or fairness audits. This is an emerging area of regulatory scrutiny for dating apps and AI systems generally.
The main area of potential concern is the tension between monetization and user experience. Hily's subscription pricing, particularly the $24.99 weekly rate, is among the higher end of dating app subscriptions. Some users have complained about auto-renewal practices and difficulty canceling subscriptions, which is a common issue across the dating app industry.
Brands Owned by Hily
Hily owns 1 brand in our database. Explore the ownership tree below — click categories to expand and see individual brands.
Hily
private · Founded 2017 · Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
1
brands
Hily Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +AI-powered matching technology creates competitive differentiation in the dating app market
- +Independence from large dating conglomerates allows product-focused decision making
- +Single-product focus concentrates all resources on improving the core platform
- +Lean operational structure with approximately 49-60 employees enables efficient operations
- +Growth to 22 million registered users without external funding demonstrates market validation
- +Premium subscription model generates recurring revenue with multiple pricing tiers
Considerations
- -Limited resources compared to industry giants like Match Group and Bumble
- -No public financial data makes it difficult to assess company sustainability
- -Smaller user base than Tinder and Bumble creates weaker network effects
- -High subscription pricing ($24.99/week) may limit user conversion
- -Dependence on a single product means all revenue depends on one app's performance
- -No disclosed external funding may limit ability to scale marketing and user acquisition
Frequently Asked Questions About Hily
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. The name "Hily" is an acronym for "Hey, I Like You."
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 brands does Hily own?
Hily owns one brand: the Hily dating app. The company operates a single-product strategy, focusing all resources on its AI-powered dating platform. It does not own or operate any other brands or products.
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.








