FORBES - Jan 8 - The New York-based Hiki is taking a decidedly different approach to online dating than answering a questionnaire, building a profile, and swiping right. The company bills the app as a "friendship and dating app for the Autistic community." "Hiki is a friendship and dating app for Autistic adults," said Jamil Karriem, Hiki's founder and CEO. "It is a safe space where neurodiversity is celebrated and the lived experiences of Autistic adults are honored and validated." Hiki's name is derived from the Hawaiian word for "able." Hiki is venture-backed, and Karriem told me it was challenging in the beginning to get investors to literally buy into helping Autistic people combat isolation. The vast majority of Hiki's employees, over 70%, are Autistic.
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