With the Cowboys revving up to start their (fingers crossed, knock on wood, blow salt over your shoulder) march to the 2018 Super Bowl, we have competition on the mind. So when Bracket, the dating app founded by Dallasite and financial manager-turned-entrepreneur Whitney Linscott scrolled across our screen, the competitive clap back at mindless swiping had us intrigued.
Linscott has transformed app-based dating to a March Madness-style competition, perfect for those who are looking to put the thought back into their thumbing.
“[Users] start each day with 16 potential dates based on your preferences,” Linscott says. “You will be shown two profiles at a time and after viewing each dater’s pictures and bio you will have to advance one person, and the other will be knocked out of the bracket. You will keep doing this until you have narrowed it down to one person and a chat will unlock.”
From the engaging competition to quirky profile questions (“If you had a boat, what would you name it and why?”), Bracket aims to set itself apart from other dating apps that value matches over material. Want to learn more about the only tournament-style dating app on the market? We had Linscott spill the details on the app and how to build the best dating profile possible.
Where did you get the idea for Bracket?
One day I was running (probably walking) down the Katy Trail and thinking about a wicked fun, slightly judgy game I played online growing up. The game would bring two pictures of people on the screen and you had to pick which one you thought was more attractive. The person you selected would advance to the next round. It was basically a March Madness tournament, but with people. You would keep repeating the process until a champion was crowned. As I approached the Ice House on the trail suddenly I was struck with, “Wouldn’t it be interesting if we applied that concept to dating apps?” At that moment I stopped in the middle of the trail, typed the idea into my phone, and over the next few days started sketching out design ideas in a notebook.
Describe the app in your own words.
A fun dating app that actually works. We keep the fun factor high by turning the job of finding a date into a game, but we also make it effective by eliminating the excessive matching on sites like Tinder and Bumble. When you swipe right 100 times and have 50 matches, where do you even start? It is widely acknowledged that apps like Tinder and Bumble are used for self-validation.
When it comes to a successful Dallasite profile, what are some key components?
Make a profile that is a true reflection of you. Don’t try to make the profile that you think a guy or girl is more likely to select. If you don’t like mimosa brunches, dogs, or going to a Cowboys game then don’t select pictures of yourself drinking mimosas, hanging out at Mutts, and cheering on the Cowboys with a bio that says “Mimosas on Saturday and Cowboys on Sunday #Dallaslife.” If you are passionate about being president of the Parcheesi club, put it in your profile. Being yourself and having a profile that reflects that is going to get you the best results.
Are there any red flags or no-nos when it comes to creating a dating profile?
Your dating profile is an extension of you. Let your freak flag fly. If you think you look amazing in that bathroom selfie with the duck face and excessive bronzer, use it. You do you. Once I had a photoshopped picture of my head on the body of a Shetland Pony in my dating profiles. I thought it was hilarious, and the guys I matched with also saw the humor in it. The guys that found it odd just moved on to the next profile which was fine, because we probably wouldn’t have had much in common anyways. The only thing I would recommend is limiting the group pictures. It’s nice to show the world you have friends, but it complicates a dating profile.
What’s your favorite part of the app?
Each dater has the option to answer a few fun questions in their profile such as “If you could be on the cover of any magazine, what would you choose.” These questions allow the daters unique personalities to shine through and can help break the ice between daters when they chat. It’s much easier to start the conversation with, “Greetings, I was going to name my boat Boaty McBoatface, but I think Sex-Sea is a much better!”
