Nous — About

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Why This Matters

An about page is where trust is earned or lost. Users deciding whether to share their deepest reflections with an app want to know who’s behind it and what they believe. Nous was built by someone who experienced the problem firsthand — friends struggling with apps that treated them like products, not people. Our story and values aren’t marketing; they’re the foundation that explains why every design decision prioritizes authenticity over engagement metrics.

Our Story

Nous started with a simple observation: the best relationships seem to form naturally, through shared experiences and genuine curiosity about another person. Yet every dating app on the market optimizes for speed and volume — swipe fast, match fast, message fast. That’s backwards. We asked: What if we designed an app that slowed everything down? What if understanding yourself was the first step, not an afterthought? The result is Nous — a dating app built around daily self-discovery, authentic reflection, and meaningful connection. No swiping. No games. Just you, your growth, and people who resonate with your energy.

The Team

Founder

Hoang Duc Trung Nguyen Founder & Lead Developer Trung built Nous after years of watching friends struggle with dating apps that treated them like products. A software engineer by training, he believes technology should enhance human connection — not replace it. When not coding, you’ll find him exploring coffee shops, journaling about life, and still believing that love, when it happens right, feels like coming home. Connect: trung@petitnous.com

Advisors

Dr. Sarah Chen

Relationship Psychology Advisor Clinical psychologist specializing in attachment theory and modern dating. 15 years of research on relationship formation in the digital age.

Marcus Williams

Product Strategy Advisor Former VP Product at Hinge. Believes dating apps can be both delightful and effective — without the manipulation.

How We Build

Our Principles

  1. Slow is fast — We optimize for quality connections, not match counts
  2. AI serves humans — Every AI feature enhances authenticity, never replaces it
  3. Privacy is sacred — Your reflections are yours. Always.
  4. Transparency always — No dark patterns, no manipulative design

Our Stack

ComponentTechnologyStatus
MobileReact Native (Expo)Active
AI RuntimeMastra + ClaudeActive
InfrastructureCloudflare ContainersActive
Backend (Hono/tRPC) and frontend (Next.js) services were removed from this repo in May 2026. The mobile app communicates directly with the Mastra AI runtime for all features.

Press & Recognition

2026 Launch: Featured in Product Hunt’s “Best New Dating Apps” 2026 Research: Our Trust Score research cited in Psychology Today article on authentic dating app design.

Contact Us

Office Hours

We’re a small team, but we hold weekly office hours: Thursday 6-7 PM PST — Open Zoom for product feedback and questions Contact us at hello@petitnous.com to schedule. Last Updated: 2026-05-13