Goan entrepreneur Swizel Mascarenhas redefines digital connections with Gelo
Valued at approximately $788 million in 2024, it is projected to grow to about $1.42 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 10.65%.
Gelo, a social networking and dating platform created by sisters Swizel and Swarica Mascarenhas, has recently marked its first anniversary.
Gelo has emerged as a compelling alternative in a crowded market by tackling two widespread challenges: catfishing and the absence of meaningful offline interaction.
While global digital social spaces continue expanding social networking apps are expected to grow from $94 billion in 2024 to over $117 billion in 2025, reflecting a robust compound annual growth rate of over 24% Gelo’s mission centers on fostering trust and authenticity.
India’s digital landscape presents fertile ground for such innovation. With over 806 million internet users and 491 million active social media identities despite only about 37% of the population being urban there remains tremendous untapped potential in digital platforms that offer credible, verified connections.
Meanwhile, the online dating sector in India is also on a rapid trajectory. Valued at approximately $788 million in 2024, it is projected to grow to about $1.42 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 10.65%.
Launching a year ago, Gelo differentiated itself with a unique ten-step manual verification process that has attracted hundreds of users committed to genuine interaction.
Through separate verticals for networking and dating, allowing users to interact solely within their intended context Gelo has helped avoid the overlap and mismatch users often face on generic apps. During its pilot phase, hundreds of users joined and provided feedback that shaped the app’s evolution.
Beyond the digital interface, Gelo has grounded its vision through offline experiences. A singles meetup in Mumbai used algorithmic matchmaking to pair attendees and was met with overwhelmingly positive responses. A more informal “Founders Connect” event at a beachside restaurant in Goa gave startup founders a relaxed space to network, aligning with Gelo’s emphasis on blending digital and real-world engagement. These carefully curated events validate Gelo’s hybrid model of connection, combining algorithmic suggestions with face-to-face interaction.
That said, Gelo operates on a bootstrapped model, with Swizel handling external partnerships and strategy and Swarica overseeing creative and brand direction a combination that has allowed the team to maintain clarity and cohesion. To scale across metro cities and solidify its presence in India’s evolving app landscape, Gelo is gearing up to raise external capital.
In a global market setting, the online dating services segment is projected to swell from $5.22 billion in 2024 to $5.64 billion in 2025, eventually reaching $11.27 billion by 2034.
Virtual networking another dimension of Gelo’s offering is also expanding rapidly in India, with revenues expected to rise from $1.56 billion in 2024 to $6.85 billion by 2030. Professional networking apps globally surpassed $34.4 billion in 2024 and are expected to grow at nearly 11% CAGR through 2031.
Gelo’s dual model combining personal and professional networking with authenticity-first design positions it uniquely.
India’s digital app ecosystem is booming, with the national app market generating $3.3 billion in revenue in 2023 and achieving 26.4 billion downloads.
Gelo, with its hybrid proposition of verified connections, niche verticals, and real-world events, stands out amidst this flurry, appealing to a demographic that values both digital convenience and genuine human contact.
A year into its journey, Gelo for Android proves that technology platforms don’t need to rely solely on engineered matches or gamified swiping. With trust at its core and real interactions layered on, it reflects a new paradigm in social apps, one that aligns with India’s vast, evolving, and increasingly discerning user base.
