RAW Dating App Expands Beyond New York into Denver

After spending the first year or two of its operating gaining ground in New York City, RAW has begun to officially expand to other areas within the U.S. – notably, Denver. RAW, which first launched in 2023, has been able to leverage its unique anti-ghosting and anti-catfishing approaches to create a surprisingly successful platform given its limited reach.

RAW operates similarly to the social media app BeReal. Users receive a daily prompt to take real-time photos using both their front and back cameras, capturing their current appearance and surroundings. These unfiltered snapshots are the only images available for potential matches to swipe on, preventing users from relying on outdated or overly edited pictures. Additionally, users must update their photos every 24 hours to continue engaging with the app.

“We designed it this way so everyone can get a real-time snapshot of someone’s life, not vacation pics from five years ago,” says RAW co-founder Marina Anderson. “If they want to learn more about someone, they can swipe up on their profile and see their daily photos from the last few days, too.”

Since its Denver launch, RAW has been attracting 300 to 400 new users daily, according to Anderson. The company aims to maintain at least 5,000 active daily users in the area by March. To build its presence, RAW is advertising with free coffee trucks, campus events, and citywide promotions, and will likely take part in major city events similar to its outing at the 2024 NYC Pride Parade.