Tinder CEO gives dating advice & more at Web Summit

Oh, Tinder. Who hasn't whiled away the hours passing judgment by swipe? As everyone's favorite 2AM app, Tinder is part "dating" service and part mindless game.
Regardless of your Tinder intentions, however, there's no denying how huge the app is.
"In the world of data, Tinder's a game changer." These words come from Paddy Cosgrave himself as he introduces co-founder and CEO Sean Rad to the jam-packed Central Stage. Rad slinks onstage looking casual cool in a striped tee and jeans, taking a seat on a pristine white couch. He proceeds to launch into exactly how game-changing that data is: since Tinder's release in 2012, the app has seen close to 9 billion matches. It's been responsible for approximately 20 million first dates, with over half leading to second dates.
The data continues from there. According to Rad, 80% of users are there to find long-term connections. The other 20% are there for more short-term reasons, "like friendships", he explains (everyone has a laugh at that).
Rad views the app first and foremost as a social discovery platform. "Tinder is increasing the number of connections in the world," he says. That doesn't necessarily have to mean physical connections – the Tinder team simply wants people to interact with each other.
That's why they're launching a new matching algorithm in the near future. They want to leave no stone unturned in your Tinder experience, aiming to get you as many matches as possible. "It's been our mission since day one to uncover every possible relationship that can happen," says Rad.
The key is making it as easy as possible for users to go on dates. The uniqueness of Tinder is in its ability to facilitate face-to-face interactions: as Rad explains, you probably won't remember a Snapchat that you saw for a mere five seconds, but you will remember a Tinder date you went on eight weeks ago. That's exactly how the Tinder team wants it to be: at their core, all of Tinder's innovations strive to take the awkwardness out of human interaction (thanks, guys!).
Of course, the chat couldn't end without a bit of Tinder-ing advice. Rad's tip? The classic "Be Yourself."
"We underestimate people's ability to look at a photo and pick up the subtle nuances," he explains.
Swipe away, folks!