About Us & Our Mission
We're building a safe, inclusive dating platform for the entire LGBTQ+ community—no labels required.
Why We Built Bindr
Our founders know firsthand what it's like to be told you don't belong—that you have to choose a side. Here are their stories.
Mary's Story
CEO & Co-Founder
Growing up, Mary faced constant discrimination from her own family. She was repeatedly told to "pick a side"—as if her identity was something that needed to be simplified or justified.
The message was clear: being attracted to more than one gender wasn't valid. She was made to feel like she didn't fit anywhere, that something was wrong with her for not conforming to a binary choice.
"I never felt right being forced into a box. I knew there had to be others like me who were tired of being told they had to choose."
That experience became the foundation for Bindr—a place where no one has to pick a side or justify who they are.
Brandon's Story
CTO & Co-Founder
After being in a 12-year relationship with another man, Brandon was told he couldn't be both—that being attracted to men and women made him "weird" or confused.
Even within LGBTQ+ spaces, he faced skepticism and erasure. The idea that bisexuality was just a phase or that he needed to "pick a lane" followed him everywhere.
"I spent years being told my identity wasn't real. I was tired of apps and communities that made me feel like I had to hide part of myself."
Brandon's experience drove him to build technology that celebrates all identities—without forcing anyone into predefined categories.
These stories are why Bindr exists.
We built this platform so no one else has to feel like they don't belong. You don't need to pick a side. You don't need to explain yourself. You just need to be you.
Join Our CommunityWhat Happened Next Changed Everything
When we came to terms with our own experiences and built Bindr, we thought we were just creating a dating app. We had no idea what we were actually starting.
In literally every room we've presented, people have come out to us—sharing their stories, their struggles, their relief at finally being seen.
People found safety in our stories. They saw themselves reflected and realized they weren't alone, broken, or wrong.
A dating app created a community we never expected—built on trust, shared experiences, and the mission to belong.
We're Not the Minority. We're the Silenced Majority.
That's what we learned. There are so many of us—people who don't fit into neat boxes, who've been told to choose, who've been made to feel like they're the exception.
But we're not exceptions. We're everywhere. We've just been silenced, erased, told our identities aren't valid enough to be recognized.
Bindr gave us—and continues to give others—a place to belong without explanation.
The trust people place in us, the stories they share, the lives that change when they realize they're not alone—that's why the mission never stops. That's why we keep building, keep fighting, keep creating space for everyone who's been told they don't fit.
"What started as our personal journey became a movement of people ready to stop hiding."
And we're just getting started.
Our Story
First, we're creating community.
We're not just another dating app (we know, that's been said before). We're a community of people who want to feel represented. With now millions of people finding us on their own, we've made quite the impact at building and growing this community since we started in August 2022.
We came from rural Pennsylvania, where we faced a lack of resources and representation. We knew there had to be something better—a place where people didn't have to fit into boxes or choose labels they weren't comfortable with.
Join for free today!Building the community was the start, now we're helping.
Building an application was just the beginning. We found others who felt like we did—people who wanted something better. Coming from rural Pennsylvania, we faced a lack of resources and representation. We asked ourselves: how can we help people who are suffering like we did?
That's when we decided to provide LGBTQ+ resources targeted to our community's location. We're building a database of resources so people can easily find the support or help they need—whether they're members of our platform or not. These resources should be available to everyone.
Check out our growing resource section
We've still got a long way to go.
We're humbled, proud, and appreciative of what we've accomplished so far, but we know just how much farther we need to go. People deserve a safe place to meet others without feeling pressured to label themselves in ways they don't want to.
We believe this is the future of dating, and most people agree. It's time to bring ethics and safety into dating—and that's exactly what we're here to do.
Join our growing community todaySee Our Story
Meet the Team
We're a small team of individuals looking to change the world.
Mary Richardson
CEO & Co-Founder
She/They
Skilled in building technical products and companies. Human rights activist fighting for all LGBTQ+ rights and creating safe spaces for our community.
Brandon Teller
CTO & Co-Founder
He/Him
Full-stack developer with experience in developing over 100 mobile applications and products. Passionate about building inclusive technology.
Join Our Team
Are you passionate about building technology that breaks social barriers for the LGBTQ+ community? We'd love to have you join our team! Reach out to learn about potential opportunities.
Get In Contact About Careers
