Wednesday22 January 2025
kriminal-tv.in.ua

"Speed Dating with TeTaTeT": a story of the project that has created thousands of connections.

Currently, there are numerous projects focused on helping people meet, but most of them operate solely in an online format.
«Скоростные свидания с ТетАтеТ»: история проекта, который подарил тысячи знакомств.

Currently, there are many projects aimed at connecting people, but most of them operate exclusively in an online format.

In Kyiv, a unique initiative offers a completely different approach. Founded 12.5 years ago by Alisa Samusieva, the organization helps individuals find not only love but also friends or partners with similar interests. The speed dating format allows participants to meet in person, leaving gadgets aside, and engage in introductions within just 5 minutes of real communication. This project has already given many Kyiv residents the opportunity to form strong connections—both romantic and friendly.

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The idea for the project arose spontaneously. After watching a foreign film, Alisa wondered: do similar events exist in Ukraine? At the time, in 2010-2011, such organizations did exist, but attempts to check them out ended with just registration and filling out a questionnaire. Unfortunately, the websites were not fully developed.

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This inspired Alisa to create her own project with a similar goal. Thus, the idea of organizing speed dating in Kyiv was born.

From the very beginning, the organization "TetATet" was meticulously planned. Participants met at cozy tables, communicated for 7-10 minutes, after which men would move to the next table for a new conversation. After the event, participants returned their sheets where they marked their preferred conversational partners during the dates. A tally of "likes" is then conducted using special questionnaires, and in the case of mutual interest, the participants receive each other's contact information. Organizers also take into account complaints about participants: serious remarks can lead to someone being placed on a blacklist.

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Since its inception, the project has significantly expanded. Initially attracting a small number of participants, each event now gathers over 20-30 couples. This led to a change in format: the time for communication was shortened from 7-10 to 5 minutes to adapt to the growing demand. Additionally, previously, after the introductions, participants had the chance to interact longer by playing a joint board game called "Alias." Now, interaction between participants is limited to just 5 minutes of communication.

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Despite the scale, the entire organization remains in the hands of Alisa Samusieva. She personally handles planning, mailings, and oversight of every detail, occasionally involving a team for specific tasks.

Today, the speed dating project is more than just meetings; it is a place where stories are born, starting from a genuine smile at a table and potentially leading to years of communication.

About the idea of creation

“I didn’t have any expectations for the project, as I was simultaneously developing in another field at that time. Therefore, I viewed ‘speed dating’ more as a secondary endeavor. I only had a tremendous desire to turn such a project into reality and provide people with a shared space where they would have a chance for communication, and then, accordingly, a chance to decide whether to continue the interaction or not,” Alisa Samusieva explains. “Essentially, this idea was an experiment that later proved to be promising, and then I fully shifted my focus to ‘speed dating.’

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About the venues

“The location of the event is always variable, so when selecting a venue for meetings, I consider the necessary number of tables to accommodate the intended number of guests comfortably,” Alisa continues. “There are establishments where tables are connected or where there aren’t enough. This also depends on the participants’ convenience, as it’s easier and more accessible for them to meet somewhere in the center of Kyiv.”

About the participants

“Our audience gradually builds up in stages and varies—it’s a lottery,” Alisa shares. “Some participants come to us for several months and still can’t find that special person. There are others who participate and find what they’ve been searching for on their first attempt. It all closely relates to the individual state of our guests. Someone might be going through a difficult period in life, which, of course, affects their mood, behavior, etc.

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In fact, there are many vivid examples of happy encounters. For instance, a successful connection happened in the life of my friend, who struggled to find a partner for a long time. Ultimately, after participating for the first time in speed dating, she finally met a man with whom she could share her dream of seeing the world.

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However, ‘speed dating’ doesn’t necessarily lead to romantic relationships. The outcome of the meeting cannot be predicted, so it sometimes happens that an introduction becomes the beginning of a friendship, partnership, or other possible relationships. Over the 12.5 years, the project has become a true platform for communication, where people have found not only love but also inspiration, support, or simply interesting conversationalists.”

About non-traditional couples

“I think it would be wonderful to implement, but the project was designed from the start for traditional couples, as the selection of participants is conducted exclusively with a balanced ratio of women to men,” Alisa Samusieva continues. “I have been approached multiple times with requests to create a platform for people within the LGBTQ+ community. So, there is a demand for this, and I would like to expand my capabilities. However, unfortunately, I am currently not familiar with the mechanisms for working with them, and the organization cannot yet reach that audience.”

About the pandemic and the war

“During the pandemic, ‘speed dating’ was put on hold. At the end of April, I decided to conduct meetings online via Skype. This format maintained the same rules as physical meetings; the only difference was the presence. This had its significant advantages, as there was no need for travel and it didn’t require extra preparation. We managed to hold two meetings, but then, once the strict restrictions were lifted, the project immediately resumed in its previous format.

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However, as the lockdown dragged on, I wanted to transition from Skype to another platform and create a special program. But it seemed that the pandemic was temporary, which eventually turned out to be true. Thus, there was no need to create a program.

While virtual meetings proved to be a practical solution, live communication is incomparable to the virtual format in terms of emotional depth. In person, one can see a definite “no” and a hypothetical “yes.”

Still, for the future, I consider adding online meetings. Furthermore, due to Russian aggression, many Ukrainian women have emigrated, and this format would be perfect for those who, for example, are looking to connect with fellow countrymen and know they are abroad temporarily.

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Overall, the war has changed many things. Since the beginning of the invasion, we, like many others, halted our activity and resumed somewhere around May. The project’s approach to organizing meetings has changed, and the war has influenced people's behavior dynamics. For example, this is evident when there is heightened danger, and participants might simply refuse to attend a meeting. There are also difficulties with movement when air alerts are announced, and someone, for instance, is traveling from the left bank to the right. In such cases, we delay the start of the event until everyone is gathered, and then we begin.”

About safety

“At our events, safety is ensured indirectly by choosing public places where visitors and staff monitor what’s happening. In case of an unforeseen situation, there is an option to quickly call for help. Some venues where we hold meetings have an emergency call button for security.”

Plans for the future

“I see further development in making the project even more comfortable and accessible for participants.

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One of my main tasks right now is to categorize participants into age groups. People of various ages register for our events, and I want to create filters that will allow us to match couples in a way that maximizes compatibility. For example, I plan to organize groups by approximate ranges: 20-30 years, 30-40, and 40-50.

Another important goal is to automate processes. I would like to implement technological solutions that simplify event organization, starting from participant registration to assigning seats at tables.

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I also plan to expand the project's geography, as I have been approached multiple times with requests to offer dating services beyond the capital. Currently, our meetings are held only in Kyiv, but I would very much like ‘speed dating’ to become available in other major cities in Ukraine, such as Lviv and Odesa.”

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Thus, “Speed Dating with TetATet” is more than just a “5 minutes to connect”