Two lifelong friends in their early fifties, both newly single after decades of marriages, children and careers, are excited to be embarking on a new entrepreneurial venture, set to bring back ‘the good old days’ of dating, taking the entire process offline, after they and friends have suffered months of being ghosted, cat fishing and fraudulent behaviour.
Kate Sime, 51, and Sarah Nicoll, 53, both from London, are not alone with their horror stories of dating apps, indeed copious reports, documentaries and articles highlight Ofcom’s research stating that 29% of adult internet users have experienced a romance or dating scam, and 6% reported encountering fraud on a dating website or app. Love Apptually, a 2026 documentary by Shalini Kantayy, premiered at the Hot Docs festival, which is receiving critical acclaim, has recently examined the dating app industry and its pitfalls.
Kate and Sarah have lived through these pitfalls and they believe the surge of users abandoning the apps is set to continue as they instead crave in person connection and building relationships ‘the old fashioned way’. To find out what others love and hate they are asking for feedback through their website kasalyst.com and Instagram @kasalyst_ (see link in bio).
“Tinder, Bumble, Hinge and Grindr have all seen user numbers decline, with Tinder alone losing around 600,000 users in a single year” said Kate. And with Ofcom having just published guidance for dating platforms on complying with the Online Safety Act we believe this will take some of the smaller players out of the market as they just won’t be able to keep up with all the red tape.Ofcom are now requiring highly effective age verification, rapid review of illegal content, and proper risk assessments covering romance fraud, intimate image abuse, sextortion, harassment, stalking and grooming. Yes it’s great that this level of protection is being added – but also it’s horrendous that it’s needed”.
After having her heart broken twice on dating apps, following lies and inappropriate messages, and falling foul to people using fake pictures and left wondering if one person was using AI for their replies, Kate quit the apps last year, and Sarah’s experiences were similar with her feeling like she wasted so many hours chatting to someone, then meeting them, only to find out they were a completely different person in real life. Together they decided to make a change and that as singles may start to explore other options, they wanted to be the ones providing them.
“We spent years trying to date the modern way and frankly, it nearly broke us. The apps are addictive but statistically hopeless, and they treat people like they’re scrolling through a clothes rail, not looking for a human being. We wanted to feel safe, excited and genuinely looked after. When we couldn’t find that, we decided to create it,” said Kate.
They also hit the realisation, that whilst they are both looking for love, they also desire more friendships and camaraderie with others who understand what their phase of life looks like, and what they need, so this sense of community and commonality is also to play a huge part in the premise of their new venture Kasalyst. They are encouraging people to join them, to build a network, not just to meet the dream partner, as they value all relationships not just the romantic type, as well as opportunities to come together to learn, to share experiences and to tap into further self development.
Alongside the events, members have access to workshops and talks covering everything from relationship and attachment advice to fashion, financial guidance, sex and body confidence, and health and wellbeing, all designed to support people navigating single life in midlife, many for the first time in decades.
Kate and Sarah, who met over 20 years ago at NCT classes and have been through many of life’s challenges side by side ever since, are set to launch Kasalyst, a private, vetted members’ club for over-35s in London this November, built to bring back the lost art of meeting in person.
With backgrounds spanning headhunting, fashion, hospitality, events, interior design, high-end holiday lets and sport, they realised they had exactly the skills needed to curate something better themselves.
“The apps felt soulless. Dates felt like interviews. The bars belonged to a different generation,” said Kate. “Launching in November 2026, Kasalyst (www.kasalyst.com) is, quite deliberately, everything the apps are not: curated, elegant, hosted, and completely swipe-free,” explains Sarah.
“Members gain access to a carefully curated calendar of events, wine tastings, cookery evenings, mixology sessions, dinners and more, all held in beautiful venues and thoughtfully hosted so that introductions happen naturally. Activities are designed to break the ice organically, so that by the time members are free to mingle, the nerves have settled, the conversations have already begun, and chemistry, that unmistakable, un-codeable thing, has a chance to spark.”
Singles retreats are also planned for 2027, launching from Sarah’s stunning homes in Anglesey, Wales. Members also unlock ‘The Edit’, a curated directory of trusted services and products, with exclusive offers.
As part of their planning, Kate and Sarah are inviting single adults aged 35+ to share their honest thoughts on what makes a great in-person event, and what absolutely doesn’t. They are looking for input on the kinds of events people would enjoy, the topics they’d love to tap into for talks, as well as the things they currently hate about dating and want to avoid.
“This is your chance to shape Kasalyst from the inside. What do you love about the idea? What would make you feel genuinely comfortable and excited walking through the door? And what would make you turn around and leave? What have you always wanted to try, and what’s the one thing that would put you on edge? We would love to know!” said Kate.