In this raw and powerful conversation, Zaahirah Adam, founder of Hati, the dating app challenging swipe culture opens up about the experiences that shaped her: childhood trauma, immigrant identity, and the loneliness that followed. She shares how surviving adversity led her to build a platform that prioritises genuine human connection over mindless matching. From being one move away from homelessness to bootstrapping a tech company with viral reach, this episode is an honest look at resilience, vulnerability, and redefining what love (and leadership) really mean.

Chapters

00:00 – The Pain Behind the Persona

03:12 – Redefining Relationships

06:45 – Shared Pain, Shared Healing

11:10 – Conditional Love & Family

15:33 – Therapy, Drinking, and Self-Worth

19:28 – Work, Purpose & Immigrant Grit

23:40 – The Why Behind Hati

27:01 – The Broken Dating Ecosystem

31:22 – Matchmakers & Dating Disasters

35:14 – Fixing the Funnel

38:59 – Beyond Dating

42:26 – From Deck to Dev

46:05 – Fundraising Real Talk

50:12 – Viral Growth on a Budget

53:55 – Redefining Success