About iD8u.
iD8u — pronounced “I-Date-You” — is a bit geeky, we know, but we love it!
Our mission is simple: to help people spend less time online and more time in the real world, creating meaningful, memorable moments with others.
To do this, we're building a global adventure dating platform — a space where businesses, groups, and individuals can offer safe, real-world environments for matched dating experiences.
The idea for iD8u was first conceived in 2021, and it's now being brought to life by Hoi Ung and Derek Caussin.
We created iD8u because many dating apps today have become overly superficial, focused on perfecting personal profiles, selecting the most flattering photos, editing or filtering appearances, and hiring professional photographers. Then come the endless small talk and repeated life summaries with strangers. Is that really how you want to spend your time?
We don’t think so.
We believe online dating needs to take a step back.
iD8u uses technology purely as a tool to bring people together — face to face — and let the magic happen (or not). It's about connection through shared experiences, not profile perfection.
Biography
I spent much of my 20s working constantly, with little time for a love life. By the time I was 28, I had very limited experience with women and dating—it was confusing and challenging, and I didn’t know much about it.
For three years, I devoured books, blogs, and tips on dating, psychology, and personal growth. But most of what I found seemed focused more on “gaming” women than truly understanding them—or improving myself. I dabbled in online dating, but it was mentally draining, repetitive, and often disappointing. The connections rarely matched the personas people presented.
Eventually, I made one of the best decisions of my life: I stopped focusing on finding a partner and instead invested my time and energy into myself. I decided to pursue the things I’d always wanted to try—driven by curiosity about who I am and what I was capable of.
Over the past 14 years, I’ve learned a wide range of new skills. I’ve become an avid dancer—both solo and partner styles—and explored bouldering, rock climbing, scuba diving, sailing, fishing, wine tasting, bushcraft, motorcycling, and most recently, singing. I’ve tried many other activities too, but these are the ones that truly fuel my passion.
These experiences have shaped me into a more grounded, well-rounded person. As I evolved, I realised I no longer needed to explain myself with words—my actions, interests, and growth speak for themselves. Rather than say who you are, show who you are.
Now, I want to share with others a different way to connect—one rooted in presence, curiosity, and shared experience. Often, you learn far more about someone by observing how they engage in doing things together than through hours of conversation. In those moments, bonds form naturally, and real memories are created—together.
— Hoi Ung, Co-Founder of iD8u
I've always believed the most exciting way to experience the world is to share it with someone you genuinely love and go do just that...experience the world through as many diverse and wonderful adventures!
I was 25 when I got into my very first truly serious relationship. Full of hope, joy and excitement. Unfortunately, as many of us do, I willingly decided to ignore signs I knew were red flags and as all of us at one point or another thought: 'this will get better over time'.
Inevitably, 8 and a half years later we separated, went through a very difficult breakdown and in many ways back to square one. No partner, a very small support system to help me go through this and more crucially, no real idea of how to find the love of my life.
The most important thing I realised then wasI had no idea what it meant to be a partner to someone. This is not something taught in school nor was there a course I could take to graduate in 'coupleship'.
After 2 and a half years of solitude, self-introspection and many hours of self-development however, I was blessed to find the most beautiful and perfectly matched soul I could ever hope for.
6+ years later, the success of our relationship is most firmly due to the various adventures and activities we go on as well as our genuine desire to understand one another, while consistently striving to become better humans.
iD8U is now my opportunity to share everything I've learned along the way about self-development, how to be a true partner to someone, but more importantly how to find and nurture a loving relationship while experiencing life through exciting adventures together!
-- Derek Caussin, Co-Founder of iD8u