the simple plan.

The experiment screen always shows the live entry status. The two planned dinner slots are Thursday, August 20, 2026 — 6:30 PM or 8:30 PM ET; restaurant revealed privately later. Reading this page, reviewing the rules, or visiting the experiment does not enter you.

The first round is for genuine NotCupid members who are 21 or older, live in Massachusetts within about 20 miles of ZIP 02116, have a complete profile, and can attend at least one August 20 dinner slot. Test accounts cannot enter.

No. Entry is free. Paying for Pro, an unlock, or anything else on NotCupid never adds entries or improves selection odds.

Mutual gender, age, location, and dinner-time availability are hard gates. Eligible pairs then receive a fit score: 75% the core NotCupid personality, values, attachment, and lifestyle model; 15% shared interests; and 10% the experiment questionnaire. Pairs below the minimum score are removed. The system first tries to give as many people as possible one strong reciprocal option, then fills second slots where the pool supports it. You may say yes to one, both, or neither. Only mutual yes pairs enter the final selection. Compatibility gets a limited 1×–3× weight, and favorites add a small disclosed boost. The system selects up to 2 pairs without replacement and assigns different shared time slots, so nobody can win twice and nobody is assigned a time they did not choose.

Yes. Orientation is an explicit choice: straight, bisexual, gay, lesbian, pansexual, queer, asexual / ace-spectrum, questioning, or prefer not to label. Participants can identify as a man, woman, or non-binary / another identity and select any one-or-more combination of those genders they would meet. Everyone receives the same shortlist cap, and actual options depend on the compatible local pool.

Yes. Bisexual is a first-class orientation choice, shown directly alongside the other orientation options rather than inferred from selecting more than one gender. Your selected genders still control who can be considered, so a label never makes assumptions about your current dating preferences.

They are reciprocal and saved with your experiment entry. You choose an inclusive range from 21 through 99 because this experiment is 21+. Someone can appear only if their identity is among the genders you selected, your identity is among the genders they selected, their age is inside your range, and your age is inside theirs. These experiment choices do not change your general Love Line settings, and editing your general profile later does not silently change this entry.

No. Everyone has the same cap of up to 2 options. Actual shortlist size depends on reciprocal age and gender preferences, compatibility, prior pairings, and pool supply. The coverage-first system gives people a first option before it starts giving others a second.

No. The 5–15-second hello is completely optional. It can add personality if you want it, but skipping it never changes eligibility, fit score, shortlist priority, or selection odds. If you add one, keep it simple: your name and one thing you would enjoy doing or talking about on a Boston date. It is not a public audition.

Choose only that time. You can choose 6:30 PM, 8:30 PM, or both. A person can appear in your shortlist only when you both marked at least one of the same slots available, and a winning pair is assigned only to a shared slot.

Only the people placed on reciprocal shortlists with you—no more than 2 in a round—and limited NotCupid administrators who operate or safeguard the experiment. A disclosed orientation label is included in that private preview; “prefer not to label” shows no label. Videos are stored privately and played through short-lived links. Joining does not give NotCupid permission to use your name, photos, video, or story in advertising.

You can withdraw before selection and request deletion of the experiment video. Remaining experiment videos are scheduled for deletion about 30 days after the round ends, except when limited retention is reasonably needed for safety, fraud, a dispute, or a legal obligation.

You privately see each shortlist option’s first name, age, photos, bio, archetype, disclosed orientation, shared interests, experiment answers, conversation prompt, fit score, and an intro video when they chose to add one. You decide independently within the deadline shown in the app, with up to 6 hours. You cannot see anyone else’s decisions, and restaurant details stay private until the winning mutual pairs are selected.

That offer cannot become a mutual pair. NotCupid does not tell either person who passed or failed to respond. If the round produces no mutual pair, eligible participants may receive another shortlist, up to 2 shortlist rounds in the experiment.

Up to 2 winning pairs can each receive one prepaid dinner valued up to $200, for a maximum aggregate prize value of $400. Food, alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks, ordinary tax, and gratuity may all count toward the same per-pair limit. The pair is responsible for any amount above $200, plus transportation, parking, or valet charges. There is no cash alternative.

No. NotCupid does not conduct criminal background checks or guarantee identity, behavior, chemistry, or attendance. The dinner will be at a public venue. Use separate transportation, tell someone you trust where you are going, protect personal information, and leave whenever you want.

If you opt in, the app can send a transactional status update when a round does not produce an option for you, an email and push when your shortlist is ready, one reminder near its deadline, a confirmation when a winning mutual pair is selected, and final dinner reminders. The app remains the source of truth. No promotional email campaign is part of joining.