Over time, relationships fall into predictable patterns, with couples struggling to discover new experiences to build memories and bond over. Cobble is the latest app trying to solve this problem. Designed for people in committed relationships, Cobble allows couples to discover new local experiences and plan activities for date night. The interface provides a curated list of engaging, fun activities ranging from comedy shows to restaurant recommendations that couples can individually swipe on. When both people swipe right, the app then allows scheduling, booking reservations, and purchasing tickets, making it easy to get the date on the books. To address the pandemic, Cobble has launched a “Stay In” vertical so couples can swipe on new recipes to cook, shows to watch, restaurants to order from, virtual events to attend, and more.
AlleyWatch caught up with Founder Jordan Scott to discuss how her entrepreneurial spirit inspired her to build Cobble. Scott has been focused on building technology for couples since 2017 and Cobble is a spinoff of idk tonight, a website and newsletter that provides NYC couples with curated date night plans.
Tell us about the product or service that Cobble offers.
Cobble is a new app made just for couples—that means two people who are in a committed relationship. Our tagline-‘life after the swipe’-isn’t just a cute phrase for those who have graduated from Tinder and Bumble. Cobble helps couples solve the ‘what do you want to do tonight?’ indecision problem we all have now more than ever, it feels. We curate high-quality, interesting, fun content. If you like it, swipe right. If you don’t, swipe left. When you and your significant other both swipe right, you match. And you’re on your way to a night you really needed.
What inspired the start of Cobble?
I recognized a huge white space in the market—after dating apps, what’s next? What happens once you’re in a relationship? There’s no help for all the decisions you find yourself making together. Dating apps stop at the match—neglecting an entire lifetime of future matches.
How is Cobble different?
Cobble is the first decision-making engine for couples. There is no other platform that easily allows couples to remotely, and therefore authentically, make decisions together on what to do, where to eat, and beyond. We took the familiar interface of a dating app, added highly vetted content, and applied it to a completely under targeted audience: the committed couple.
What market does Cobble target and how big is it?
Cobble’s target market transcends age, education, ethnicity, gender, geography, income, profession…it just doesn’t get any bigger. When you’re in a relationship, many, if not most, of your decisions become joint. What are we watching tonight? What flight should we book? What do we want in our next Amazon haul? We’re starting with date night, but Cobble becomes much, much larger. We launched two weeks ago in New York, in the midst of a pandemic, and are in the process of launching in several new cities to continue testing, iterating, and expanding the product.
What is the business model of Cobble?
To close a sale requires a decision, usually by more than one person. Our current focus is on user growth first and foremost—because when we have a million couples swiping and matching on Cobble, the revenue opportunities are also limitless. From revenue sharing to brand partnerships and upgraded functionality to data monetization—all are made possible by a large, repetitive audience.
How has COVID-19 impacted the business?
COVID-19 pushed us to launch, in fact. At first, it was nerve-wracking that we had built an app revolving around going out and experiencing the world together (i.e. where to get dinner, and what comedy show to go to afterwards), but we realized during quarantine that we had an incredible opportunity. #1: Couples were bored at home. Looking harder than ever for something to spend their time, energy, and money on. #2: We planned on launching verticals beyond ‘going out’ in the near future anyways, so why not test and try earlier than anticipated? #3: Generally speaking, we needed the kick in the butt to send our baby out in the world. Nothing is ever perfect.
And the faster you can get it out, the faster you can learn, iterate, and make your users happy. We decided to launch an entirely new “Stay In” vertical where couples could swipe and match on what to cook, what to watch, where to order in, what virtual events to attend, and more. All with the simple tap of a filter. Most recently, we added the ability for users to filter by Outdoor Dining and Black-Owned Businesses. Both incredibly important to have easy access to as we navigate these important moments of our history.
What are the milestones that you plan to achieve within six months?
We plan on finishing our seed round, hiring several key roles, expanding to multiple new cities, and finally pouring some gasoline on our marketing efforts through influencers, social ads, and more exciting initiatives to begin growing our user base and offering couples this thrilling new way to move through life together.
What is the one piece of startup advice that you never got?
In the very early days, you’ll somehow be insanely overwhelmed and simultaneously at an utter loss for what actual work to do. I can’t tell you how many days it was 2 p.m. and I just had no clue where I should put my efforts next. Everyone I spoke to made it sound like founders can barely come up for air (which, three years later on my second venture, is now the case), but when I first decided to take the leap, quit my job, and ‘start something’, I felt guilty for not spending every hour of every day working on my business. Filling the time is tough. But if you keep at it, keep writing down what excites you, keep having conversations with other founders (and complete strangers), I promise, eventually you’ll create the work for yourself. And it’ll be great work.
In the very early days, you’ll somehow be insanely overwhelmed and simultaneously at an utter loss for what actual work to do. I can’t tell you how many days it was 2 p.m. and I just had no clue where I should put my efforts next. Everyone I spoke to made it sound like founders can barely come up for air (which, three years later on my second venture, is now the case), but when I first decided to take the leap, quit my job, and ‘start something’, I felt guilty for not spending every hour of every day working on my business. Filling the time is tough. But if you keep at it, keep writing down what excites you, keep having conversations with other founders (and complete strangers), I promise, eventually you’ll create the work for yourself. And it’ll be great work.
If you could be put in touch with anyone in the New York community who would it be and why?
Jon Stewart. We’d laugh. He’d be in love with Cobble. We’d laugh some more. We’d find a way to do something amazing together.
Why did you launch in New York?
New York was my first love. Ever since Kindergarten, I knew I was a ‘city girl’ and wanted to go to NYU. Cut to: age 17, moving into my dorm on Washington Square Park. I was completely enamored with the idea that a million, beautiful experiences were happening all over the city at the same time. I wanted to find them all. I met my now fiancé when I was a junior in college, and I realized that when you meet your person, the best thing in the world is experiencing the million, beautiful experiences with each other. New York was the obvious first choice for an app like Cobble.
What’s your favorite outdoor dining restaurant in NYC
This might be the hardest question here! We love Pomodoro on the Upper West Side, Sevilla in the West Village, and UES (the ice cream shop/speakeasy) on the Upper East Side.
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