When the Algorithm Got Old
We’ve reached peak swipe fatigue. Between ghosting, mismatched intentions, and profiles that look more like highlight reels than reality, modern dating has lost its spark — or at least its spontaneity.
Enter Lisa Craft, the Southern California founder shaking up the scene with Adventure Dating, a fast-growing lifestyle app designed to get people off their screens and back into the real world.
“People are craving authenticity,” Craft says. “They don’t want another perfectly filtered selfie — they want connection. Real, lived connection.”
Where the Idea Took Root
The idea didn’t come to Craft in a boardroom. It came on a mountain trail. In 2018, while cycling through Topanga State Park, she had what she calls her “lightbulb ride.”
“I thought: what if there was a way to meet people through the activities you already love — hiking, surfing, concerts, or biking — instead of swiping through faces?”
That spark became Adventure Dating, a platform that connects users by shared interests, distance, and availability, not just looks or algorithms. It’s part dating app, part social experiment, and completely against everything we’ve come to expect from modern dating culture.
The Non-Tech Founder the Industry Didn’t See Coming
Craft isn’t a Silicon Valley veteran. She doesn’t code. She’s not interested in VC theatrics.
Instead, she’s a creative entrepreneur with a background in health and wellness, and that’s precisely what makes her app so disruptive. “I think not being from the tech world was freeing,” she says. “I didn’t want to build something that gamifies people. I wanted to build something that feels human.”
Her SoCal sensibility, a blend of activewear chic and startup discipline, is evident in the app’s branding. Adventure Dating looks less like a tech platform and more like something out of Elle Decor: sleek, sunlit, aspirational.
Adventure as Chemistry
Unlike the dating giants built on algorithms and addictive UX, Adventure Dating builds its matches on motion — literally. You enter your favorite activities, how far you’re willing to travel, and when you’re free, and the app pairs you with people looking to do the same.
Whether it’s hiking Runyon Canyon, catching a surf session in Malibu, or exploring a new art walk downtown, every connection starts with a shared experience.
“Something happens when you’re outdoors or trying something new,” Craft says. “People drop their guard. You see who they really are — without filters, without small talk.”
Why Adventure Dating Works
There’s a growing shift in dating culture — one that aligns perfectly with Craft’s vision. According to Pew Research, Gen Z and Millennials are showing record disinterest in swipe-based dating, citing burnout, safety concerns, and a lack of genuine connection.
For many users, the app feels less like a dating platform and more like a lifestyle club for people who want to live — and love — actively.
What’s Next for the App That’s Redefining Connection
As Adventure Dating gains traction, Craft’s focus is on streamlining the user experience, expanding brand partnerships, and rolling out in new communities across the U.S.
She’s also expanding the app’s editorial content to include curated date ideas, safety tips, and user spotlights, all with her signature tone: playful, confident, and grounded.
“Dating shouldn’t feel like a job,” she says. “It should feel like an adventure.”
Love, Unfiltered
In a world where so many apps promise instant connection but deliver exhaustion, Adventure Dating is proof that slowing down can actually help you find something real.
Lisa Craft isn’t building another tech company. She’s building a movement — one adventure at a time.
