Fed up with dating apps, NYC singles are pitching themselves in PowerPoint to find love
Swipe fatigue is real, and New Yorkers are officially over it. Instead of endless profiles and awkward small talk, a growing number of singles are turning dating into a live presentation experience—complete with slides, videos, and a cheering audience.
Welcome to Pitch and Pair, a buzzing new event series where friends create short PowerPoint decks to “sell” the eligible people in their lives. Think Shark Tank meets singles night, with romance as the ultimate investment.
Selling Love, Slide by Slide
At Pitch and Pair events, presenters take the stage for three to five minutes, clicking through slides designed to show why their friend is a great catch. These decks are anything but boring—expect playful bullet points, mini video clips, inside jokes, and even animated tickers.
The idea came from founder Joe Teblum, a 33-year-old tech marketer living in Chelsea, who noticed that some of his best single friends weren’t thriving on dating apps.
“I have a lot of shy, introverted friends who are amazing people, but they don’t shine in swipe culture,” Teblum explained. “And after Covid, I kept seeing how much people missed meeting face-to-face.”
So he built an event where personality could take center stage—literally.
From Intellectual Charm to Firefighter Fame
At a recent gathering at Slate in the Flatiron District, 16 locals were pitched to a crowd of several hundred. Each presentation offered a glimpse into someone’s life, humor, and quirks.
One crowd favorite was Kedar Venkataramani, a 30-year-old intellectual property lawyer. His cousin highlighted his quick mind, stylish suits, love of soccer, and appreciation for tasting menus and Broadway shows. The audience laughed when she added that he Citi Bikes everywhere “like it’s his personal Tour de France.”
Another standout was Chris Puch, a 33-year-old Staten Island firefighter who’s built a following on TikTok. His presenter joked about his ability to cook healthy meals—despite once watching him demolish an impressive amount of Taco Bell—and praised his passion for travel and adventure.
When the Single Builds the Slides
Not everyone stays hands-off. Anand Tamirisa, a 33-year-old investment banker from Chelsea, admitted he helped design his own presentation.
“I work in PowerPoint all day, so it was easy,” he said. “I put it together in about two hours.”
His slides mentioned his move to NYC after being inspired by Jay-Z, his stand-up comedy attempts at dive bars, and the fact that he works in finance but “doesn’t wear a vest.” By the time he left the stage, he already had several new Instagram followers.
“If something comes from this,” he said, “it would be an incredible story.”
From Awkward Beginnings to Sold-Out Nights
Pitch and Pair now runs twice a month at venues like City Winery in the Meatpacking District and Second City in Brooklyn. It costs between $40 and $60 to pitch a friend (including tickets), while audience members usually pay $15 to $25. Tickets often disappear within days.
It wasn’t always this popular.
“When I first tried this, only one person wanted to present,” Teblum recalled. The earliest event barely drew a crowd, and some presenters leaned too hard into roasting their friends, triggering boos from the audience.
Now, there’s one main rule: keep it kind.
“The energy completely changes when it’s positive,” Teblum said. “Someone shows a photo of a dog or a favorite hobby, and the whole room erupts.”
Terrifying… and Possibly the Future
For the singles being pitched, the experience can be both thrilling and nerve-wracking. Sophia Demetriou, a 26-year-old fashion designer, was the first person presented at a recent event. Her former roommate praised her style, her unbeaten backgammon record, and her love for Pizza Hut.
“It was terrifying,” Demetriou admitted. “But honestly, I think this might be how people date in the future. It just makes sense.”
As dating apps continue to feel exhausting and impersonal, events like Pitch and Pair tap into something many singles are craving: real-world connection, shared laughter, and a chance to be seen as more than just a profile photo.
