Raya (app)


Raya is a private, membership-based, social network application for iOS, first launched in 2015. The application was initially a dating app, but added features to promote professional networking for members of the entertainment industry. Membership in Raya costs $7.99 per month. To join Raya, users must be referred by an existing member, and then their application is voted on by a membership committee. The acceptance rate for Raya membership applications is approximately eight percent. In addition to subscription fees, the company also charges for sponsored placement of user requests.

History

Raya was conceived by Daniel Gendelman in 2014 and went live in February 2015. The app is available on Apple devices. In 2016, Raya acquired Chime, a video messaging startup.

Format

Users link their profile to their Instagram account, and must create a photo montage set to music for their profile.

Notable members

Some notable Raya users include: Ben Affleck, Channing Tatum, Joe Jonas, Demi Lovato, Nicole Byer, Keke Palmer, Sharon Stone, Moby, Lily Allen, Cara Delevingne, Matthew Perry, Raven-Symoné, Jack Whitehall, Niall Horan, Emily Atack, Emma Watson, Tom Felton, Brittany Furlan, Nicole Byer, Tommy Lee, Whitney Cummings, Lil Dicky, Melissa Villaseñor, Nikki Glaser, and Bob Saget.

Secrecy

Raya is not advertised, and asks that its celebrity users don't mention it by name. If a user screenshots a profile, the app warns them that they may be removed from the platform.