Key Takeaways

“This could be the night you meet him.” Tantalizing words from RAW, the dating app that elicits absolute authenticity from its users. The “night” RAW’s referring to isn’t any ordinary night, but Feb. 14, Valentine’s Night, when RAW’s most eligible bachelors will be available for adoption. 

Yes, you read that correctly. “This isn’t a party. This isn’t speed dating,” RAW clarifies on its website. “This is a dating show — like The Bachelor meets puppy adoption.” 

I can’t lie: Hearing the words “adoption” and “grown men” in the same sentence was jarring at first. So, we’re adopting men like puppies now? Or is it like one of those bachelor auctions from that one episode of Full House? Will I be expected to walk this man on a leash?! 

RAW CEO Marina Anderson set me straight. “Everything about [RAW] exists to strip away the performance and show people as they actually are,” she told DatingNews. “‘Adopt the Boyfriend’ is the natural next step — taking what already works inside RAW and extending it into the real world.” 

The idea is for women to download RAW and choose their preferred “type” of guy, from “golden retriever” to “hockey lover” to “finance bro.” RAW will host matchmaking nights in NYC, including on Valentine’s Day, where women will be able to “adopt” their chosen guy. 

Anderson explained how each bachelor will be hand-picked and vetted based on their overall personalities, dating goals, and online behaviors. “These bachelors are RAW users — they built real profiles, showed up authentically, and now they get to take that connection offline,” Anderson told us. 

These Guys Are Ready for Real Relationships, Says RAW

Anderson’s right — there’s a clear line of demarcation between the real world and whatever you want to call the world that exists on dating apps (romantic limbo?). RAW tries to cut through the noise with its dual-camera photo requirement, which makes users post a spontaneous, unfiltered photo using their front and back cameras every day.

This approach doesn’t only have safety benefits by weeding out bots and catfish. It gets users into the habit of dating with authenticity — of leaving romantic limbo behind. “No hiding, no performing, just real people being themselves,” Anderson described. 

Rest assured, RAW’s bachelor adoption is completely voluntary, with thousands of men vying to be one of the sought-out eligible bachelors up for grabs. These guys are “All looking for their person. All hoping you’ll choose them,” RAW says on its website. 

This is “Not another profile,” RAW added. Participants can expect “A real person who’s just as ready as you are.” 

Framing the matchmaking events around puppy adoptions may be humorous, but these singles are serious about finding love. RAW is focused on setting the right tone for participants so they feel comfortable being their true selves while being surrounded by strangers. 

Don’t look at these bachelors as grown men with their own agendas, RAW posits. Try to see them as adorable puppies who just want to be loved, cuddled, and added to your contacts as more than just “Guy from RAW.” 

‘Adopt a Boyfriend’ Meets Demand for In-Person Dating

With thousands of applicants to sort through, people are clearly responding to RAW’s opportunity for curated, in-person connections. Singles are ready to embrace new ideas and creative dating events, rather than online connections or even in-person mixers and speed dates. 

“Adopt a Boyfriend” is a spin on the real-life dating events that modern singles crave. The puppy adoption lens is a unique way to depressurize a normally nerve-racking situation — meeting people IRL — and to encourage each participant to lead with confidence, calm, and yes, authenticity. 

It helps that “Adopt a Boyfriend” will have smaller guest lists, featured singles, and built-in conversation starters to act as catalysts for real connections.

Read any DatingNews article from the last few years, and it’s obvious what modern daters are looking for the most: a hassle-free, in-person connection with someone they can vibe with. Singles want to go outside and instantly lock eyes with the love of their life. Is that really so much to ask? 

Not according to Anderson, who described “Adopt a Boyfriend” as one part of RAW’s ongoing mission to produce creative, outcome-driven IRL matchmaking events: “We’re always looking for new ways to make dating feel good again,” she told us. “This is one of them.”