Meet Elle Wilson, the Founder and CEO of Met Through Friends, a company rewriting the rules of modern dating through friends-of-friends connections.
Elle’s journey began in 2022 when she noticed her own circle of datable friends struggling to find success on dating apps. Determined to create something more meaningful than the usual swipe culture, she hosted her first singles event. This was the spark that would soon grow into a community-focused movement. What began as invite-only gatherings evolved into a model where attendees bring a friend of the gender orientation they’re interested in dating. This clever twist not only ensures a quality crowd but also prompts a deeper reflection: Are we cultivating relationships worth vouching for? For Elle, Met Through Friends is about more than matchmaking; it’s a joyful celebration of community and trust.
During our conversation, Elle shared the highs and lows of building a company in the dating industry, the pivotal decisions that shaped her mission, and what she would tell her younger self if she were to start her entrepreneurial journey over again.
Tell us the story behind your company’s founding. How and why did you start working on Met Through Friends?
I hosted my first singles party for my own friends back in 2022. I had lots of wonderful, date-worthy friends who, confusingly, weren’t finding any success on dating apps. I wondered, what would happen if I got them and the other great people they knew offline and into a room full of others looking for the same thing? After a series of increasingly popular events, I founded the company with the core belief that we all know great people and can make more meaningful connections by leaning back into our IRL networks.
What are some of the most meaningful impacts Met Through Friends has had so far?
Each month, I get to see hundreds of people show up in person to make new connections. It never gets old. I’ve seen romantic relationships start, new friendships form, and old friendships strengthen. Whether or not someone ends up meeting the “love of their life” at my events, it’s been my honor to watch people take bold steps in pursuit of meaningful relationships. I’m proud to be setting the stage for real connections to happen.
Can you delve deeper into the evolution of Met Through Friends' mission and values over time?
I started by hosting events for my own friends on an invite/referral-only basis, believing that this was the best way to ensure the quality and character of events. I quickly realized that this was neither scalable nor necessary for events to succeed. Instead, I required attendees to bring a friend of the gender orientation they were interested in dating in order to gain admission. I learned that this was a sufficiently high bar for ensuring that people were a good fit for what I was intending to create. Bringing a friend is a challenge. But it can elicit meaningful reflection.
Do you have strong friendships across gender lines? Do you cultivate relationships with people you would vouch for and who would vouch for you? Are you brave enough to take a chance on inviting someone to come to an event with you? I’ve found that requiring this action from guests results in consistently aligned groups of people showing up. Ultimately, my mission has evolved from something that impacted my own smaller circle of friends to something broader. I want to stand for the value of investing in meaningful, joyful connection wherever you are.
What’s been the hardest and most rewarding part of your entrepreneurial journey?
Working in the dating industry means holding a lot of space for other people’s complex and intense emotions. People come to events and coaching with past hurts, frustration, and burnout, in addition to some of their most precious hopes and goals for themselves. Getting it right feels amazing, and inevitably not being able to solve everything for everyone can feel horrible. However, knowing that I’m working to provide better, more connective, and more meaningful solutions for people as they seek to build relationships is the greatest honor of my career thus far.
"Knowing I’m working to provide better, more connective, and more meaningful solutions for people as they seek to build relationships is the greatest honor of my career thus far."
We dare you to brag. What achievements are you most proud of?
The individual successes I see from event attendees and coaching clients. I interpret success broadly: the relationship that started at one of our parties; the coaching client who feels more confident on dates; or the new group of friends that formed after meeting at an event and found solidarity in their shared pursuit of connection. It simply never gets old. Knowing that I’ve achieved even one of those things is enough to make this all worth it.
What would you tell your younger self if you were to start your entrepreneurial journey all over again?
To keep doing what I’m doing. I spent a lot of time exploring different interests, passions, and career paths. I was worried that I wasn’t picking the “right” things. However, my breadth of experience means I have flexibility and adaptability that serves me well as an entrepreneur who wears many hats. The things I’ve picked up and put down aren’t “lost,” but rather added to my portfolio. I’d tell myself to remember that you get to take it all with you!
