DateSpot’s Carla Swiryn Wants Matchmaking Within Everyone’s Reach

The Short Version: DateSpot sets out to build couples who go the distance. Under the company’s unusual model, singles can connect at no charge with partner matchmakers who are looking for people to pair with their clients. Founder and CEO Carla Swiryn brings 10 years of work across tech, marketing, and client service, plus another ten years as a professional matchmaker. Here she explains what the service offers and how to get yourself ready to make the most of it.

Carla Swiryn launched the matchmaking service DateSpot in 2019 after spotting a hole in the dating market: Why wasn’t there a pool of singles that matchmakers could draw on to locate matches for clients, and that singles could tap into for free as well?

The idea that grew out of that question lets singles register at no cost as “candidates,” joining the pool of potential partners that DateSpot’s 100-plus hosted matchmaking companies draw from. Those matchmakers can then pick candidates to introduce to clients who want a real relationship.

Paid apps, costly matchmaking services, and pricey first dates that too often lead nowhere are everywhere, yet the mission driving DateSpot has stayed simple. “Not only can we do matchmaking,” Carla said, “but we can do it a lot better, for a lot less money.”

If you’ve had enough of nonstop swiping and want seasoned professionals to take charge of your love life, keep reading to see how DateSpot puts high-quality matches within everyone’s reach.

How It Works: Clients, Candidates, and Costs

Professional matchmaking can cost more than many people can afford. Writing on the DateSpot blog in 2023, Carla shared that nearly all matchmaking companies charge at least $5,000 for dedicated service, many begin at roughly $10,000, and the biggest, most prestigious firms ask more than $25,000.

Carla Swiryn founded DateSpot and serves as its CEO.

DateSpot meets that demand for affordable matchmaking. With its free option, singles get the chance to meet DateSpot members and the paying clients of its partner matchmakers.

As a candidate, you never pay a cent, ever! “There are a lot of people out there who just don’t want to pay, or at least not right away. But they could be an excellent match for a client and we’d be doing that client a disservice by not allowing them to meet. So I love the fact that we have a free route,” Carla said.

The catch, Carla explained, is that as a candidate you won’t get the proactive search clients receive, and you can meet only certain people, so match options come along only now and then.

That’s why DateSpot is proud to give members a second path: pay-per-match, for anyone who wants far more match options and a search centered on them.

If love sits high on your list of priorities, or you want the strongest odds of success, you can become a proactive client without much money upfront. Pay-per-match is more flexible than traditional matchmaking firms, which bind you to a long contract with no idea who or what you’ll end up with.

“About 15% of our database are clients,” shared Carla. “Clients can meet anyone. Candidates can only meet clients. So, of course, being a client is a totally different ballgame.”

“Unlike traditional matchmaking companies, we don’t have lengthy contracts. You can opt in and opt out anytime,” Carla continued. “There’s no risk, and no membership fee beyond one initial very reasonably priced call.” With pay-per-match, you pay for a match only when both people want to meet.

The matchmaking process at DateSpot is simple and transparent.

For more tailored searches in particular, DateSpot regularly reaches out to its affiliated partners to find out what matches they might have. “For example, if there’s a Christian client who really wants someone who aligns with their faith, we have matchmaking partners who specialize in the Christian community.”

Carla requires these clients to complete an in-depth video call, which costs $195. “We’ll get to know you, see you live, review your photos, clarify the search, and just match you better because we’re getting a sense of your personality.”

Even that isn’t mandatory, though. “If someone just says, ‘I absolutely don’t want to do that,’ it’s fine. It’s no risk! From there, we create a shareable profile for you,” Carla said.

Clients pay only one thing upfront: a deep-dive call over video lasting 45 minutes, which costs $195. “We’ll get to know you, see you live, review your photos, clarify the search, and match you better because we’re getting a sense of your personality and energy.”

“We identify candidates within the database, and then if we’ve kind of exhausted those options, we can reach out to partner matchmakers to see who might be the best fit for you.”

From beginning to end, the whole process is private and hand-curated, and the emphasis stays on quality over quantity. “We don’t guarantee a certain number of matches,” Carla said. “Quotas can lead to bad matching and not actual, true matches.”

Know Your Priorities Before You Join DateSpot, but Keep an Open Mind

Like what you’ve heard? Get clear on what you want and need before you dive in and set up your account. If you don’t know yourself, you can’t hope to understand anyone else.

“My advice is to figure out what your dealbreakers are. But, in practice, most people marry and end up with someone who is a little different–or even vastly different–than what they originally imagined,” said Carla.

Chances are your ideal partner won’t look flawless on paper, and being open to what’s possible matters just as much as the priorities you started with.

Carla urged matchmaking clients to be open to connections they don’t expect.

“Be as open as possible. Maybe you make $200,000 a year and you want someone who makes equal or more because you want stability, a beautiful home. Those are all wonderful things, but what’s really important?” asked Carla.

Once your priorities are set, you can build from there. “If you were thinking that you want to be with someone who makes half a million or more, maybe you could also be open to someone who makes a little bit less than you, but is still really passionate about his career.”

Building the Ideal Profile

If DateSpot is sounding like a good fit, Carla offers advice on how to stand out. Plus, DateSpot’s profile requirements make it simple to put yourself in a strong position right from the start.

“Pay more attention,” said Carla. “One or two is not enough! With DateSpot, we always share at least four in a profile. We believe it’s very important for the photos to be representative, varied, and recent.”

A good dating profile always has more than one dimension. If yours shows five selfies shot from the identical angle, you need a new approach.

Few people have the ideal set of photos, and most should reconsider how they present themselves visually. Aim for variety in outfits, colors, angles (close-ups as well as full-body shots), facial expressions, and backgrounds (and always include one shot with a big smile, which shows someone that making you happy won’t take much effort).

Ideally, pair those cute solo photos with shots that show off your hobbies and interests, in a range of settings or situations where you can.

“We want to see you in different lights to show how interesting you are,” said Carla. “Everyone is multifaceted.” 

With your profile, the DateSpot team aims to share plenty of information that singles might otherwise need months or years to discover, so everyone saves valuable time on the way to a compatible partner.

A DateSpot Matchmaker will use the deep-dive video call to give you candid feedback on your profile photos, ask you some deeper questions, and learn more about you so they can suggest the right people.

“We can really help you understand. Do you need a good lifestyle shot? Do you have a full figure shot? Are these photos too old?” No matter what you’re wondering, DateSpot arrives ready to help.

Begin Your Own Success Story Now

The numbers speak for themselves: DateSpot users are finding success.

“Eighty-seven percent of our members are either open to a second date, or very interested in a second date–meaning that only 13% of people who go on a DateSpot date with members say, ‘No, I don’t want to meet that person again.’ I think that’s pretty exceptional,” said Carla.

Second and third dates happen at a very high rate on Datespot.

Because profiles with photos are shared in both directions and a date happens only when both people are interested, satisfaction and success run higher than at companies that arrange blind dates, and that strong success rate reflects how carefully they work to make very well-aligned pairings.

Members have already marked milestones since DateSpot’s launch, several marriages among them.

“We’re proud of our success stories. We have one sweet little DateSpot baby who’s already been born. A different couple is also due to have a baby girl soon,” said Carla.

Nobody should be kept from the love they deserve because of cost. And people who want more personalized service should still be able to choose it.

DateSpot lets you decide, and your matches are ready and waiting. Visit DateSpot now and sign up as a client if you want dedicated matchmaking, or start out on the free, passive Candidate route. Nothing is due upfront, and there’s no charge until you both want to meet, so what have you got to lose?