We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Vincent Chan a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Vincent thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?

I started a company called Based Dating, which helps men improve their online dating results through professional dating app photography, profile optimization, and coaching.

It really began from my own experience. I entered the dating scene a bit later in life, and like a lot of guys, I struggled on dating apps at first. I wasn’t getting many matches, and it was frustrating. So I started experimenting with testing different photos, bios, and messaging styles to figure out what actually worked. Over time, I started to see patterns. I realized how much things like lighting, angles, and the way you present your personality visually could completely change your results.

Once I started seeing success myself, I began helping a few friends for free. I took new dating profile photos for them, rewrote their prompts, and coached them through how to message effectively. Their results improved right away, and that’s when I realized there was a bigger need for this kind of help, especially among Asian men who often face unique challenges in online dating.

Before Based Dating, I had already built an online fitness coaching business, so I understood how to take something I was good at and turn it into a service. I started posting transformation stories and dating tips on Reddit and YouTube, showing real results instead of gimmicks. One of those Reddit posts, where I shared a friend’s dating transformation, got some good attention and led to my first paying client in October 2023. That was the moment Based Dating officially began.

From there, things grew over time. My content expanded onto Instagram and got millions of views. I built a website, created a full dating app photography and coaching service, and started running Instagram Ads to reach a larger audience. I labeled myself intentionally as a dating app photographer and Asian dating coach. It wasn’t a flashy launch. It was a lot of consistency, testing, and learning from every client interaction.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Vincent Chan, and I’m the founder of Based Dating, a company that helps men transform their results on dating apps through a complete, hands-on process that combines professional photography, profile optimization, and personalized coaching.

I got into this work because I was once in the same position as many of my clients. I entered the dating scene later than most and struggled to get matches on apps. It wasn’t that I lacked personality. I just didn’t know how to present myself visually or communicate in a way that stood out. So I started experimenting with everything: photos, prompts, messaging, and premium features. Over time, I learned what actually made a difference. My results completely changed, and soon friends started asking me to help them do the same.

That’s when I realized there was a much bigger need for this, especially among Asian men, who often face unique challenges in the dating world. Most advice online was either too generic or built around flashy pickup tactics that didn’t feel authentic, and a good number of working men don’t want to invest more time and energy getting burned trying to figure things out. I wanted to create something that actually worked for normal, high-achieving men who just wanted to show their best side online and accounted for their busy lifestyles.

Before Based Dating, I had already built an online fitness business, which gave me the foundation to understand marketing, storytelling, and how to get real results for clients. I applied those same principles here by combining visual presentation, personal branding, and communication skills to build a system that actually moves the needle.

Every client experience with Based Dating is comprehensive. We start with strategy by understanding who they are, what kind of women they want to attract, and how to authentically represent that. Then we plan and execute a personalized dating app photoshoot, selecting outfits, locations, and poses that match their lifestyle and energy. From there, we rebuild their profile, rewrite their prompts, and coach them through messaging and date conversations so they can confidently move things both on and off the apps.

What makes Based Dating different is how end-to-end and results-driven it is. It’s not just about taking good pictures or giving vague dating advice. It’s about creating a complete visual, psychological, and strategic transformation that helps men attract higher-quality matches and build genuine confidence in the process.

What I’m most proud of is seeing how this work changes people’s lives. When a client sees himself looking confident on camera for the first time, and then starts getting real matches with women he never thought he could reach, it’s transformative. It’s more than just dating. It’s about finally taking care of this aspect of their life so they can be more fulfilled with themselves.

If there’s one thing I want people to know about me and Based Dating, it’s that this isn’t some gimmick or shortcut. It’s a system built on authenticity, psychology, and presentation. I help men tell their story better through visuals, words, and confidence so they can attract real connections in the modern dating world.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I’ve felt underrated most of my life. I wasn’t particularly talented growing up, and I didn’t stand out in any way. When I first got into dating, that reality hit hard. I struggled a lot on dating apps and quickly realized that most of the advice out there wasn’t built for people like me, who are regular guys who didn’t fit the “model” or “influencer” mold. So I had to figure things out on my own.

Over time, I did. I started improving my photos, refining my profile, and learning what actually worked. Once I cracked that code, I began helping friends, and eventually, I started sharing what I learned online. At first, people loved it. It was seen as something positive and genuine as me giving back to the community.

But when I decided to turn it into a real business, that’s when the criticism started. Some people who used to support me began questioning my intentions, as if helping others couldn’t coexist with running a professional service. As Based Dating grew, I faced online hate, personal attacks, and even people fabricating negative stories about me and my girlfriend to undermine what I built. It’s one of those realities that come with being public. When you start succeeding, not everyone will be happy for you.

What’s kept me grounded is knowing how much impact this work has. I see myself in my clients, who are men who’ve felt overlooked, underappreciated, and frustrated with modern dating. Helping them go from zero matches to confidence and success is what keeps me going. I’ve learned that if I stopped every time someone criticized me, I’d never make a difference.

Resilience, for me, means continuing to show up, even when people misunderstand your intentions. The opinions of people I don’t serve don’t define me. I focus on the clients whose lives are changing, the men who finally feel seen, and the results that speak for themselves. The criticism comes with the territory. You just have to choose your hard, and I’ve chosen this one, because it’s worth it.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

When I started creating content, I didn’t have a grand strategy or brand plan. I just wanted to share what I had learned from my own dating journey with the things I wished someone had told a younger version of me. My first YouTube videos were simple and direct. I broke down what actually worked for me on dating apps and explained it in a way that made sense for regular guys who felt stuck.

As I got more comfortable on camera and better at editing, I started improving how I expressed myself. I made tutorials on how to take your own dating photos, how to message effectively, and how to present yourself authentically online. Those videos started connecting with people because they were both educational and relatable. I wasn’t talking at men. I was talking to them. Over time, I also began to infuse humor into my videos to make the learning process more engaging.

Once I started streamlining my content creation process, I began experimenting more with different platforms and styles. That’s when I got into Instagram Reels, where my content really took off. I posted dating profile reviews, texting breakdowns, and transformation analysis all in a style that blended practical advice with entertaining delivery. Those Reels reached millions of views, and that growth brought thousands of followers and, eventually, clients who resonated with how I communicated. They could tell I knew what I was talking about and that I had actually lived it.

If I had to give advice to anyone starting to build their social media presence, the first thing I’d say is just do it. Most people overthink their first post so much that they never get started. I did the same thing at first, but the moment I posted my first video, I broke through that mental barrier. You can’t improve what doesn’t exist, and feedback, even if it’s silence, will always guide your next step.

The second piece of advice is to know your “why.” Decide whether you want to share your personal journey, educate others, or establish yourself as an authority in a niche. Every piece of content should move you closer to that goal. For me, it was about helping men who felt overlooked and frustrated finally find success in dating. That clarity made every creative decision easier.

And finally, consistency beats perfection. Post regularly and focus on improving with each piece of content. Your first videos or posts won’t be great, and that’s fine. What matters is that you keep learning. Over time, you’ll figure out what captures attention, what makes people stay, and what truly connects. That’s how I built my audience: one honest, intentional post at a time.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.baseddating.net/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/based.vincent/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@basedvincent