Welcome to Startup of the Week. A column highlighting BC’s most innovative and exciting tech startups. Today, we’re featuring Vancouver’s Snack.
If anyone knows the online dating world, it’s Kimberly Kaplan, CEO of Snack. Before starting Snack, she was the Vice President of Product Management, Revenue Optimization & Marketing at Plenty of Fish, a Vancouver-based online dating site that was acquired by Match group for $575 million USD in 2015. Now Kim is looking to revolutionize the dating app industry by focusing on video-first dating.
Read on to learn more about the future of dating, Kim’s favourite quote and what the CEO herself loves to snack on.
Q: Pretend I’m your Grandma, explain what your company does.
A: Snack is where TikTok meets dating.
Snack is a dating app where people share videos of themselves to match with other singles. We got rid of swiping and selfies, allowing you to show off the real you through a more authentic and dynamic format.
Q: Do you have a motto or quote that inspires you?
A: “Change is the only constant.” — Heraclitus
Q: Snack just raised an impressive $3.5m, do you have an interesting story about that journey to share with the Techcouver community?
A: We raised our round during Covid, so it was all remote via Zoom. It took about three weeks, was pretty competitive and resulted in multiple term sheets. I really enjoyed the process though! When else do you get incredibly smart people with such diverse backgrounds thinking about what you’re building and offering advice?
Q: What do you wish you had known a year ago?
A: I wish I had known that the dips in the markets a year ago would be very temporary. Originally I was going to raise for Snack in March 2020, but paused it because of Covid. I wish I had gone forward with it and launched sooner.
Q: What has been most helpful in building your business?
A: The network of people I’ve connected with this past year—whether that be potential investors, creators or customers, they’ve all helped shape what Snack is and helped me hone in on what’s important. Don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for help or advice—people are a lot more willing to offer their support than you might think.
Q: What keeps you up at night?
A: My husband talking in his sleep! The other night he was racing horses with Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn.
Q: What is the most important quality for a startup?
A: Perseverance—I think it’s being passionate about what you’re building to drive through the rollercoaster that is a startup.
Q: What would people be surprised to know about you?
A: I still have imposter syndrome. I remember walking into the room at Creative Destruction Lab the first day and thinking “What am I doing here?” Two years later I was recognized as mentor of the year and have made amazing relationships, but I’m still nervous to speak up in the room of all these amazing people.
Q: What future trend do you think will most impact Snack?
A: Video is the future. TikTok was just the start of the wave and introduced people to video-first profiles as the norm.
Q: What’s the best advice you recently received?
A: Enjoy where you’re at today because it’s not going to be the same next week or next month. You’ll face new wins and new challenges.
Q: For obvious reasons, we need to know—what’s your go-to snack?
A: Chocolate chips! Or carrots and hummus (but not together.)
If you’re single, download the app and let Snack know what you think. Snack is continuing to expand the team, check out open positions here.
Want to be featured as a Startup of the Week? If you are a BC-based tech startup that we should know about, or would like to suggest one, reach out to startups@switchboardpr.com.
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