Founder of Grindr rival Goose quits app after two months as vision doesn’t align with direction
Derek Chadwick (Image: Getty Images)
Derek Chadwick has stepped down from Goose, the gay dating app he co-founded as a Grindr rival, saying the company’s direction no longer matches his original vision, about two months after launch.
In an Instagram statement, Chadwick said he is no longer involved with the app “in any capacity” but wished the team well.
Explaining his decision, Chadwick wrote: “Where I landed is that my vision for where this should go and the direction the company is going aren’t the same thing anymore,” adding: “When my name and my face are on something, I want to be able to stand behind all of it, fully. As that stopped being true, staying didn’t feel right.”
He also said: “Although I’m no longer involved with Goose in any capacity, I wish the team the best – there are great people over there working incredibly hard to make Goose special,” before thanking early users for joining and messaging him about their experiences on the app.
In the same statement, Chadwick suggested he was “not done building for” the gay community, teasing more would be coming soon.
How Goose works
Goose launched in June 2026 and was positioned as a rival to Grindr and Scruff. Chadwick launched the app alongside former BeReal growth and community manager David Aliagas.
Its Google Play description says it helps gay men “discover guys through shared places, interests, friends, and moments happening around you”.
The app also replaces matches with a “wave” mechanic: if two people wave at each other, they connect. “It’s lighter, more natural, and removes pressure from the start,” its description reads.
Since, the app has faced scrutiny, including accusations of using AI-generated men to lure users. A Wired investigation alleged a number of fake social media accounts were being used to target potential new users to join, which Goose denied.
It also faced backlash over a “Member Content License and Waiver” in its terms and conditions, which allowed the app to use a user’s “user name, image, voice and likeness”, as well as disappearing photos they shared on the app.
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