Interview With Varun Sud Founder and CEO, Juleo
In this edition of Founder Spotlight, we’re featuring Varun Sud, the Founder and CEO of Juleo, a dating app launched in 2023 to revolutionize the online matchmaking landscape. In August 2024, Juleo raised $2.5 million in angel funding from over 180 investors. Juleo distinguishes itself by moving away from the prevalent “swipe culture” associated with many dating apps, instead focusing on fostering real-life interactions and connections among users. Sud aims to leverage AI technology within the app to enhance user experiences while focusing on genuine human interactions. Juleo seeks to foster a safe, trustworthy, and engaging environment for singles seeking meaningful connections.
Let’s hear from Sud how this “Trusted Singles Club” creates a safer, more responsible dating environment that addresses the shortcomings of traditional dating platforms

Juleo is positioned as a “Trusted Singles Club” rather than a dating or matrimony app. What inspired you to take this unique approach in the relationship-finding space?
Users vehemently told us that dating and matrimony apps as they exist today were not working. They were not only an inefficient way to actually meet people but were also leading to scams and mental health toll. We realized they were hurting more than helping and a fresh, first principles approach was needed to solve this problem.
The concept of a “Personal Matchmaking Genie” is intriguing. Can you explain how this virtual wingperson works and what makes it different from traditional matchmaking algorithms?
When we found that users faced multiple challenges with the online paradigm, we discovered several users were paying tens of thousands to lakhs of rupees to human matchmakers. On studying their modus operandi we realized they provided 5 benefits: (1) Privacy (2) Safety (verified profiles) (3) Profile curation (4) Actual meetings (5) Feedback & coaching. And while they had built profitable businesses they remained SMBs as human networks don’t scale beyond a point. Our Genie essentially replicates their modus operandi at digital scale. Akin to yoga, we want to take something that is working from the past i.e. traditional Indian matchmaking, package it in a modern GenZ friendly avatar, and export it from India to the world. Think of Genie as your confidante, wingperson and relationship coach without the awkwardness of a human involved.
Privacy for women is a key element of Juleo. How does the platform ensure that women feel safe and in control of their experiences while also encouraging meaningful connections?
There is no directory of Club Members i.e. a public bazaar on Juleo like on other apps. Women’s profiles are fully private by default. Genie shares men’s profiles with women where there is a match and a woman can then choose to make herself visible to the man or not. And you know what, this works great for men too because we spare them the time & energy wasted on endless swiping and the pressure of being witty on chat to get noticed, they only spend time & energy on women who are already keen to meet them.
You mention that Juleo uses India Stack and AI to solve one of the largest unsolved consumer internet problems. Can you elaborate on how these technologies power your platform?
Every Juleo Member is Govt ID-verified. We use Govt of India’s Digilocker service for this. We have found interesting use cases of both GenAI and traditional ML in moderating user content and segmenting users so that Members at Juleo only meet their type. There are several more use cases on our roadmap including fighting abuse and relationship coaching.
With backing from unicorn founders and alumni from prestigious companies like Google, Amazon, and McKinsey, how has this collective experience shaped Juleo’s vision and growth?
We are focussed on landing genuine impact at scale. Our angels and team members constantly push us to think bigger and execute with rigor, while closely listening to our customers at all times. This is a really hard problem to solve and needs the best minds and executors.

How does Juleo’s verification system work, and how important is it to have a Government ID-verified community in terms of building trust among members?
Given the scams that are prevalent in this category we actually think governments around the world should make Govt ID verification mandatory. We currently allow users to use an Indian Driving License or Aadhar to validate their identity and age, 2 things users often lie about on other platforms. Thanks to the Digital Public Infrastructure that the Govt of India has put in place, we don’t even see the ID no. of the applicant and hence the process involves the highest degree of safety and privacy. Every Juleo Member is Govt ID verified and also criminal record checked ie anyone with a criminal record is denied entry into the Club. We have partnered with the same companies that verify Uber drivers and Airbnb hosts to enable this in our app.
What are some of the key challenges you’ve faced in changing the narrative from a traditional dating or matrimony platform to a trusted singles club, and how have you overcome them?
When you are redefining a category like we are, it is not easy for sure. Our job has been in getting users intrigued enough to try the product, because once they do they have no doubt that this is something that is genuinely different from anything else out there. Our brand ambassador Mithila Palkar has played a key role in building both intrigue and trust. So much so, we are at a point today where we have more women than men on Juleo who are looking to get married!
Recently, you raised $2.5 million in angel funding. How do you plan to use this investment to enhance Juleo’s platform?
The capital will be used to fund our stellar team that is building and marketing the product, and on marketing campaigns to acquire new users.
Your team comes from a diverse background, including tech, consumer, and consulting giants. How do you maintain a balance between innovation and user experience in such a competitive market?
Yes, the cognitive, gender and age diversity on our team is a huge asset in helping us understand our consumers and what they need. Now while the market seems competitive from the outside, there isn’t one trusted channel users will name when it comes to finding a meaningful relationship! That is where we come in. Users are not stupid – when they see innovation that genuinely solves their problem vs innovation for innovations sake, they embrace it. We are laser focussed on solving the real problems that incumbents saddled with legacy and innovators’ dilemma have failed to do.
Lastly, how do you expect Juleo to evolve over the next five years, both in terms of user experience and the broader societal role it plays in connecting people?
We want to be for Love what Google is to search or Netflix to entertainment ie the trusted goto channel and household name, both in India and abroad. This may take 5 years or more, and we are steadfast in our mission to help end loneliness for singles across the world in a safe, healthy and responsible manner.