Heavn wants to promote “serious and lasting encounters”
Guiral Ferrieu has “always organized parties and afterwork for the pleasure of meeting new people and bringing other people together”. If dating sites dedicated to Catholics existed, this enthusiast of new technologies and followers of social networks noted that the first “were a little dated and always paying” when the latter did not ultimately lead to widening his circle of acquaintances. As for the apps already in place, they most often resemble “a catalog of images”, valuing the physical to the detriment of the personality. A breach into which the adopted Bordelais decided to rush in 2016, with his friend from Rennes from high school Pierre Macquère, single like him. But Guiral Ferrieu warns: “we are not in the midst of Catholics, but more broadly in a community of Christian values”. “Which reassures many users who did not dare to take the step of other apps,” notes the creator.
Confinement effect
The two thirty-somethings, respectively sound engineer in a radio and doctor, then spend all their free time for two years, developing the application they want accessible to all. Until meeting Guillaume Balas developer, also from Rennes, who will complete their skills in IT development.
A first name, a few photos, a presentation in a few lines and a colored halo designating the level of involvement in religion; these are the first elements of a first contact via Heavn.
Screenshot/Heavn
Heavn comes out on the Appstores shortly before the second confinement. “A peak in attendance” then takes place and will not weaken in the following months”. Some 30,000 members are now counted in France, Switzerland, Belgium and Luxembourg. 55% of them are women, unlike other products on the market, which Guiral Ferrieu explains “by their attraction to spirituality”. If the users are on average 30 to 35 years old, the designer notes “a significant portion of seniors and even octogenarians” among the profiles. And already “dozens of marriages and hundreds of meetings” for Heavn, including that of one of the three leaders. In hand the last announcement received the same morning, Guiral Ferrieu assures him: “nothing makes us happier! »
“Slow dating”
Because Heavn wishes to promote “serious and lasting encounters”, members are only offered three new profiles daily, taking into account the age group of the soul mate sought and their location. “Slow dating”, advocates one of the co-founders, more conducive to starting the discussion.
With a few photos, each member also reveals himself on the smartphone screen through a short personal text. As well as three questions chosen from a list of fifty relating to tastes, personality, faith, the notion of a couple or even lived experiences. It is from one of these points put forward that a first “like” will open the possibility of a “match” in return and the start of a conversion via messaging. Specific to Heavn, a small colored halo above the first name defines the importance of the link maintained with religion. On the presentation side, everyone will have previously informed of their age, size, location, or even their desire for a child.
“We personally make sure to validate each profile,” says Guiral Ferrieu, even if it means sending the new member a message and passing their photo through a visual search system to find and eliminate any false profile. “We want serious and quality profiles”. And it is with the same rigor that Heavn strives to preserve personal data and guarantees the right to disappear from any profile.
Bordeaux: they create a dating application for Christian singles