When Alex Ruber and Parth Chopra entered Y Combinator’s Fall 2024 batch, they had no idea their journey would involve five major pivots before discovering the winning formula for their social app. The former Apple and Twitter engineers faced mounting pressure as their seed funding dwindled, but their persistence ultimately paid off with remarkable results.
The Pivot Hell Experience
Initially, the founders built Encore, a conversational AI shopping tool that secured them a spot in Y Combinator and $2 million in funding. However, they quickly realized the unit economics wouldn’t work long-term. “The secondhand shopping space is a tough market,” Ruber explained. “To succeed, you either become like Google Shopping or build a strong marketplace like Whatnot.”
Between December and April, the team experimented with over ten different ideas across various sectors including fashion and sports. Each pivot brought new challenges and strained relationships, yet the founders remained committed to finding the right product-market fit.
The Breakthrough Social App Concept
The turning point came from personal experience. The tension in their own relationships sparked an idea: a simple swipeable deck of questions designed to improve communication between partners. This minimal viable product unexpectedly gained traction when a team member’s TikTok video went viral, particularly resonating with European users.
Key features that drove early adoption:
- Gamified daily prompts for couples
- Photo sharing and comparison features
- Streak tracking for consistent engagement
- Lightweight, mobile-first design
Rapid Growth and Monetization Success
Within six months, the social app now called Candle achieved impressive metrics. The platform grew to 300,000 users, including 150,000 couples, with more than 250,000 monthly active users. The DAU/MAU ratio reached approximately 50%, indicating strong daily engagement patterns.
More remarkably, Candle implemented early monetization through a freemium model. Monthly revenue recently crossed $150,000, translating to over $1 million in annual recurring revenue. The premium tier unlocks additional content and features while maintaining core functionality for free users.
Market Positioning and Competitive Landscape
Candle occupies a unique space in the social app ecosystem by focusing on strengthening existing relationships rather than facilitating new connections. The app targets Gen Z and young millennials who value meaningful digital interactions. Competitors include Paired and Couple Joy, but Candle’s rapid growth suggests strong product differentiation.
The timing appears ideal as post-pandemic work habits and social media overload have increased feelings of loneliness. Candle addresses this by making daily connection with close relationships easier and more engaging.
Future Roadmap and Challenges
Despite early success, the founders recognize ongoing challenges around long-term retention and feature expansion. The roadmap includes adding more ways to earn “sparks” through diverse interactions and introducing richer features without compromising the lightweight user experience.
Existing investors including Goodwater Capital, Pioneer Fund, and Y Combinator continue supporting the new direction. The remaining seed funding will accelerate engineering hires and experimentation cycles.
FAQs
How many pivots did the founders make before success?
The team attempted more than 10 different ideas across five major pivot directions before settling on the final social app concept.
What makes Candle different from other relationship apps?
Candle focuses on gamifying daily interactions between existing partners rather than helping users find new connections, with strong emphasis on consistency and engagement metrics.
How did Candle achieve such rapid user growth?
Organic viral growth through TikTok and Instagram, combined with strong product-market fit for users seeking meaningful digital connections.
What is Candle’s revenue model?
Freemium approach where basic features remain free while premium content and advanced features require subscription.
How does Candle measure engagement success?
Through DAU/MAU ratios (approximately 50%) and streak consistency metrics showing how regularly users engage with their partners.
What are the main challenges facing Candle?
Maintaining long-term user retention beyond 12-36 months and expanding feature sets without compromising the lightweight user experience.
