Robyn Exton

Yo, have you heard of Robyn Exton? The guy’s a total legend in the startup world, especially in the queer tech scene. So here’s the deal, Robyn’s the founder and CEO of HER, which is like the biggest dating and social app for lesbian, queer, bi, non-binary, trans, and gender stuff folks out there. Think of HER as the go-to platform for a community that’s been kinda underserved and often ignored by mainstream dating apps, which are usually super cis-hetero-centric.

Robyn started all this back in 2013 with a thing called Dattch. It was basically his first shot at making a dating app for queer women, but honestly, it was kinda just okay. Then in 2015, he rebranded it to HER and went all-in. And man, that move paid off. Now, HER has over 13 million users worldwide. Holy shit, that’s huge. It’s become one of the biggest spaces for queer women and gender minorities to connect, date, or just hang out.

But here’s what’s cool about Robyn, his process wasn’t just about making an app. Before all this tech stuff, he was deep in advertising and brand consultancy, working at Calling Brands. That gave him some legit experience on how to build brands and connect with audiences. But what really sparked his fire was his frustration with how badly designed dating sites for lesbians were. He legit got sick of the bullshit and decided to do something about it. Instead of just complaining, he rolled up his sleeves, learned how to code, and funded HER with his own savings and even a lottery win. No cap.

And the story gets even better. Robyn isn’t just about making a cool app, he’s a total advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion. He’s openly fought against trans-exclusionary practices in dating apps and is super vocal about making space for everyone. That’s why he’s such a big deal, he’s not just building a business, he’s pushing for real change.

Plus, he’s a Y Combinator alum, so he’s been through the real deal startup accelerator program, which helped him scale HER fast. The dude’s all about community, tech, and making a difference. His process shows that he’s driven by genuine frustration turned into action, he saw a problem, learned what he needed, and built a platform that’s now changing lives.

Bottom line: Robyn Exton is a trailblazer. He’s proof that when you’re passionate about fixing real issues, you can crush it and make a huge impact. He’s not just some founder; he’s a movement creator, making the digital space safer and more inclusive for queer folks everywhere.