Drybaby is a modern dating app designed for singles who are sober or looking to cut down on their drinking.
The app comes at a time when 41% of Americans are cutting down on alcohol as part of the so-called “sober curious” movement, and Gen Z is particularly interested in the movement, with 61% planning to cut down on alcohol, according to a recent survey commissioned by NCSolutions.
Drybaby also taps into the growing trend of in-person dating experiences, fostering a sense of community by socializing without alcohol. A key feature is its community section, which serves as a hub for users to interact and share events.
So far, Dry Baby has partnered with New York City-based companies like Reading Rhythms, which hosts book parties; Storytel, which finds in-person get-togethers; and The Fields, known for its “mindful” events for singles. In the fall, the company plans to roll out more events, including an alcohol-free dance and event tour.
Drybaby also has a weekly text-based newsletter called Drybaby Drop that highlights local events that cater to a sober lifestyle, and a weekly calendar within the app also shows local non-alcoholic activities.
“We realized there was a huge and underserved community of people looking to meet. [alcohol-free] “Working together is so important,” co-founder John Carrabba told TechCrunch. “Unless you're sitting in a dark bar, there's very little education on what to do.”
Calaba is joined by a founding team of experts including former employees of Airbnb, Amazon, Meta and Snap, with Dominic Gallello, former Chief Marketing Officer of Bumble, serving as a growth advisor to Drybaby.
Image credit: Drybaby (image has been modified)
Drybaby is one of several existing and new sober dating startups that are jumping on the trend, including CASL, Loosid and Sober Grid. The newest app on the market is Club Pillar, an invitation-only sober dating app that costs up to $50 per month.
But Drybaby is free and isn’t as strict about accepting users who aren’t completely sober.
In fact, Drybaby caters to all types of people, including California Sobers (people who smoke cannabis but don't consume other drugs or alcohol) and Mindful Drinkers who are simply interested in alcohol-free events in their area.
“We want to create an environment where people feel comfortable coming in and have the opportunity to socialize without drinking alcohol. While many people may feel a little unsure at first, we think we've created a safe, fun, supportive and authentic environment for people to try out,” Carrabba said.
The iOS app is currently available in Los Angeles and New York City, with other cities like Denver and Boulder, Colo. An Android version is also in the works.
Drybaby is largely bootstrapped, but the company is in the process of raising seed funding, though the amount and participating investors were not disclosed.