A One-on-One With Linx Dating Founder Amy Andersen — Just How She Became “Silicon Valley’s Cupid”


The brief variation: Whether they’re generating modern edition of an already-cool item or creating next big part of technology, singles in Silicon Valley often leads hectic physical lives — consequently online adult dating site usually becomes put on the backburner. Since 2003, Linx Dating and its own Founder Amy Andersen have already been addressing the needs of these hectic, relationship-minded specialists with a curated, customized, and intuition-based matchmaking program.

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From Google to Apple to Lyft to Github, Silicon Valley is acknowledged for the juggernaut technology companies and innovative start-ups, so much so that there’s also popular tv program called after it. Silicon Valley can be noted for the enthusiastic, hardworking, imaginative, and devoted those who just work at these lenders — all of these gives well to an effective career although not necessarily an effective relationship life.

“A lot of these individuals are very concentrated with regards to professions any particular one time they wake up and consider ‘Oh my gosh, i have to find my match. Just how do I go-about doing that?’” stated local matchmaker Amy Andersen. Linx Dating is how they begin undertaking that.

Launched by Amy in 2003, Linx, for quick, is actually a curated matchmaking solution for anyone hectic, high-profile solitary specialists in Silicon Valley additionally the surrounding Bay Area (along with all around the globe) who haven’t had the opportunity to find the union they demand. These days, the organization is recognized as “Silicon Valley’s Matchmaker” and Amy its “Cupid.”

Amy recently told us about the “aha second” that began it all, the girl client-to-client vetting process, the algorithm-less, intuition-based matchmaking, as well as the personal connections she develops making use of individuals she assists.

Connecting the Gap Between solitary guys in Silicon Valley & solitary ladies in San Francisco

The motivation for Linx was available in 2000 while Amy was employed in private customer services at a technology organization in bay area but located in Silicon Valley. Whether it is at work, through friends, or just on trips, Amy usually came across both women and men who were knowledgeable, profitable, appealing, and well-rounded, however they were unmarried and failed to understand why.

Understanding both areas perfectly, Amy pinpointed the challenge: there are more offered males in Silicon Valley than San Fran and a lot more available ladies in San Fran than Silicon Valley. The help of its family members, friends, and careers staying in their own particular towns, deciding to make the 50-minute auto day at satisfy special someone wasn’t at the forefront of their own minds, Amy revealed.

“that has been my personal ‘aha minute’ in which I thought ‘imagine if I had been to bridge this gap and create these possibilities for these fantastic women in bay area and these great men in Silicon Valley?’” she said.

Amy then spent the next 3 years carrying out as much investigation as she could, using her business-oriented mind to get a far better idea of the business and need for this kind of matchmaking company. In 2003, when she had all her ducks in a row, she give up the girl job at Merrill Lynch, launched the organization, and not appeared back.

“Starting Linx was one of the best choices of my entire life,” she stated. “Facilitating these introductions and helping as a conduit between these class has proven be effective very well throughout the last 12+ many years that i am carrying this out.”

From Application to Even the marriage, Amy is There Every Step

Amy takes an extremely hands-on method together consumers from starting to conclude, observing each person independently, making use of their particular wants and requirements during matchmaking, and providing her qualified advice all along the way.

A One-on-One, deep Vetting Process Ensures High-Caliber Clientele

At Linx, every thing starts with the quality of the clients. While various other matchmaking firms might take whoever applies, Linx has a considerable referral-based vetting program that produces their particular clients stand out from the rest. Every aspiring member must be suggested by a former or existing user, a pal or get in touch with of Amy’s, and/or like.

Amy gets a large number of referrals each day and screens each applicant by herself. And whether or not they’re 22 or 72, Asian or Latino, lawyers or artisans, Amy is seeking those who are smart, healthy, relationship-minded, accomplished, committed, and top interesting everyday lives on the whole.

“providing somebody is excited about their own career, that is what I’m interested in. Beyond that, I’m looking for folks who are well-rounded. Whether it’s volunteering or cooking or whatever truly, I just want to see they’ve a colorful, fascinating existence,” she stated. “When someone states to me ‘All i actually do is work’, i am perhaps not browsing would you like to utilize them. Not just do they not need balance within their schedules, but for me which is also indicative which they don’t have time for a relationship.”

Following the first evaluating, Amy creates an one-on-one meet-and-greet, which she said is the most important element of getting litigant. This is how Amy reaches understand individual, listen to their unique individual tale, and discover whatever’re looking for in somebody (and the things they’re perhaps not looking for).

Above all, Amy is determining if her company may be the proper complement both parties. Whether some one isn’t really 100percent over their unique ex or are located in a hard stage of these life, the woman impulse can determine if the time is actually off.

“The meet-and-greet is an important treatment for my self but moreso for the prospect to obtain a good browse of just what Linx is focused on,” she mentioned. “individuals get the responses that they’re shopping for from the meet-and-greet, and that’s vital because anybody which decreases that path to become a client, i wish to make sure they think prepared to accept this process.”

If the meet-and-greet goes really, they’re going to keep returning for a follow-up meeting with Amy before you choose the account which is ideal for all of them and obtaining started on matchmaking. Even though it looks like an extended process, Amy mentioned it is essential because she wants every user is satisfied with Linx and vice versa.

Matchmaking That Combines the customer’s desires & Amy’s Intuition

Besides screening every prospect, Amy can also be truly the only person at Linx who the matchmaking, outsourcing the woman concierge services to professionals like specialist wardrobe stylists, make-up designers, and psychologists.

“this is exactly a rather tiny, boutique, niche matchmaking business versus countless businesses that have big employees and limbs all around the world and so on, so Linx is extremely customized due to that,” she said.

The woman special matchmaking program brings together the granular metrics of what the individual wishes in a night out together (their favored peak, age, earnings, etc. in addition to their deal-breakers) and Amy’s organic skill and intuition for once you understand when a couple belong together.

“nowadays, regarding whenever I put together a match, about 75percent if it’s created by abdomen, that impulse that claims ‘Oh my personal goodness, In my opinion i may get on to one thing right here,’” Amy stated.

Predicated on those factors, Amy will take control of, searching the woman database of eligible singles until she discovers an ideal match for every client.

On line Pre-Introductions Get Singles stoked up about Their Match

Once Amy has actually the woman ideal pairing, she’ll e-mail both folks a “baby bio” of each and every various other, going for a snapshot with the other’s personality, passions, appearance, and receiving all of them stoked up about just how fantastic they’d end up being together.

“i’d like my personal customers in the edge of their seats, jaws into surface, like ‘OMG this individual appears remarkable,’” she stated.

They’re going to after that will ask Amy questions regarding their own match and take some time they need to decide for themselves if they believe it’s right. During this period, Amy additionally guarantees the clients have no idea both, whether through work or personal circles if not previous internet dating activities, thus everybody has a clean slate.

“I have found there could be cross-pollination using my consumers in which they will have in some way have actually came across. I would like to abstain from a situation in which they’ve already came across or they’ve glanced at every other’s using the internet profiles and there was actually grounds they decided to forego that opportunity,” she said.

Committed from Amy’s original e-mail into the pair agreeing in order to meet typically takes 72 hours, and also at the period Amy will send all of them a one-page, custom bio with further juicy details, including their own basic names. Amy mentioned she excludes finally brands till the first day to allow them to avoid Googling both, engaging in their particular minds, and destroying the miracle.

Along with Amy becoming traditional, she requires the guy to phone the woman (no texting or emailing!) within 5 times to create an enjoyable time in which he addresses their.

Heading Beyond a Matchmaker becoming a Liaison, Confidant, buddy & Adviser

When Amy tends to make a match, she doesn’t merely deliver all of them off throughout the very first date with a “all the best!” She offers pre-date coaching that places her consumers comfortable and instructs all of them simple tips to slow their fast-paced everyday lives down (at the least for starters night) She mentioned this can be particularly important in Silicon Valley, in which everybody is working 24/7 and always have a million ideas running through their own brains.

“i really want you to forget about everything near you, every one of the interruptions in life,” Amy mentioned. “Now I need one carefully get ready for the day mainly because matches truly count. Plenty is riding in it emotionally and economically, therefore I want individuals pay attention to those important details and don’t forget how important those first impressions are.”

“Amy has actually exceeded every hope and that I would highly recommend Linx. We have because met a great man who I would n’t have satisfied normally. The audience is getting things slow and witnessing precisely what the future holds.” — A Linx Member

And because every user signals a two-year contract (and this can be suspended anytime when they meet special someone), Amy turns out to be in the same way invested as they are within trip and is in a position to develop a relationship beyond a professional one. She even gets wedding invites and photos of infants who’ve been born from previous users.

“which is largely why i actually do this — it is very gratifying,” she stated. “Far beyond my job of being a matchmaker, i am a liaison, confidant, friend, and adviser.”

Final Thoughts

Thanks to Amy’s dedication, resourcefulness, and fascination with the woman consumers, Linx is actually caring for an under-served singles market during the internet dating market, and she is only just scratched the outer lining on what she will give the Silicon Valley area and world. We’re definitely anticipating exactly what will come next.

“I worked very hard to construct outstanding reputation in this region, but I feel like i’ve much more unearthing accomplish to obtain even more varied and interesting customers which I am able to assist,” she stated.

For females who wish to join Linx Dating, click here. For men enthusiastic about enrolling, go here. You may want to follow Linx and Amy on Twitter: @linxdating.