Lafayette founder launches the social and dating app that puts people in control, not algorithms

LAFAYETTE, La.— While many companies are charging toward AI companions and more algorithms to find “the perfect match,” Lafayette founder Tim Hand is going the more natural route, where the pressure of the approach is relieved because intent comes first. The No. 1 question people ask once they match, Hand says, is “What are you looking for?”, which he calls the biggest gap in dating app history, created by the apps that have been around for years. His answer is MOOD Social & Dating, a free social and dating app built in Louisiana that settles that question before anyone says hello. The full app launches nationwide on iPhone and Android on Friday, Oct. 30. People can download the free pre-release waitlist app now from the App Store and Google Play; it updates to the full app on launch day.

Two years of research led Hand to an understanding the industry has missed: people get on social and dating apps for different reasons, yet no one has put a focus on those reasons, other than creating separate niche apps. The result is an ambiguity that plagues all of them: most of the time, one person assumes the person they “matched” with is looking for the same thing. “Having one place where you can just change your desire makes more sense,” Hand said.

Most dating apps put an algorithm in charge: it decides who people see and when, and conversations stall because nobody knows what the other person actually wants. MOOD Social & Dating turns that around. Members choose a MOOD for what they want right now (a long-term relationship, new friends, a study buddy, someone to bring to tonight's show) and see everyone nearby who chose the same MOOD, closest first. No algorithm ranks them, and MOOD Social & Dating does not sell members' personal information.

“People should be in control of who they meet, not a company's algorithm,” said Tim Hand, founder and CEO. “On MOOD, you say what you're here for, you see everyone who's here for the same thing, and you choose. No games and no guessing. No AI and no list of 400 prerequisites is going to hand you the ‘perfect person.’ All they do is filter out the people you might have clicked with. None of us is perfect. Chemistry only shows up when two people actually engage.”

A plan instead of “hey”

In most MOODs, the first move is an Offer: a real plan, like coffee Tuesday or trivia Thursday. The other person can accept it, send a Counter with a different plan, or pass, so everyone knows where they stand. The Offer and Counter feature is patent pending. Members can also break the ice with more than 20 built-in games.

A MOOD for real life

The MOODs span romantic, platonic and casual connections. Pet Dates is for people whose pets are part of their life. Event Friends is built around local events and their group chats. Study Buddies helps college students find study partners. Politics starts with a short policy quiz that matches people on what they believe. N.A.T.O. (Not Attached To an Outcome) drops the barriers so people can chat right away. See every MOOD →

Tested before launch

MOOD Social & Dating ran a successful beta in Lafayette and Omaha, Nebraska, in 2024. On Oct. 30 the full app opens to everyone.

Designed for safety

A profile is only visible to people who share the member's current MOOD. Everyone generates badges that help distinguish authentic, genuine people, helping to thwart scams. Anyone can be reported or blocked, and the app includes an Online Safety hub with tips on spotting romance scams. MOOD Social & Dating is for adults 18 and over. Joining is free; optional extras are available through the App Store and Google Play.