Tandem: Case Study
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© 2026 You Min Choi

Competitive Analysis Tandem is not a dating app, an event platform, or a replacement for existing queer spaces; it is a system for everyday co-presence—designed to work alongside what already exists.


  • Grindr
  • Lex
  • HER
Dating and social apps offer access and density, but depend on explicit identity and active engagement, often centered around dating.
  • Meetup
  • Eventbrite
  • Timeleft
Event platforms organize connection, but through time-bound experiences that require planning, commitment, and often existing social circles.
  • Queer bars and nightlife
  • LGBTQ+ community centers
  • Pride events and programming
Queer spaces provide visibility and cultural value, but many are disappearing and limited to certain moments, not everyday life.


Tandem is built around everyday co-presence, not connection.

We shift the context of belonging from something you seek out to something you can experience within everyday life, without requiring new behaviors or environments.
    Embedded in daily routines, not destination-based
    Optional participation, not interaction-driven
    No requirement for identity disclosure or performance



    New York City alone is home to over 700,000 LGBTQ+ individuals, representing a high-density market where repeated exposure can drive adoption and sustained engagement.

    Tandem’s model scales in urban environments with sufficient density to support this, extending beyond the limits of traditional queer infrastructure.




    © 2026 You Min Choi SVA MFA Design / Designer as Entrepreneur Program