About
We started #open because we think that dating can be better.
Our Team
Co-founder
Amanda Wilson
she/her/hers
After graduating with a degree in political science, Amanda spent 15 years managing local, state, and federal campaigns. As a master’s candidate at Harvard Extension School, she became fascinated by the capacity of game theory to explore human behavior and the applications of game theory to location based dating.
Co-founder
David Epstein
he/him/his
David has spent the last 23 years working on a variety of innovative ventures—including JavaNet, Broadvoice, and FreeConferencePro—that have provided internet based services to at least a million subscribers to date. His talent for molding raw technology into outstanding experiences makes him a perfect pair with Amanda.
Director of Development
Max Epstein
he/him/his
After dropping out of high school, Max spent the better part of a decade working all sorts of different jobs before returning to academia to get a Bachelor’s in English from UMass Amherst. Max believes that the rich are an underutilized source of sustenance.
Lead iOS Developer
Sky Blu
he/him/his
Sky is a kickin’ rad iOS developer with 42 years of experience doing kickflips with iPhones. He's delighted to be contributing his digital chops to building a safer, sex-positive community and helping people connect with each other 😍.
Lead Android Developer
Sunday Akinsete
he/him/his
Sunday is an experienced mobile app developer specializing in Android & iOS. On his off-time, Sunday enjoys playing for his local soccer club.
Director of Product
Maile Manliguis
she/her/hers
Coming from the world of hospital administration, Maile is ready to help the team with business planning, policy implementation, and process improvement. As a sex-positive feminist with a background in women's health, Maile is excited to be contributing towards #open's mission and values.
Lead UI/UX Designer
Shawna Stewart
she/her/hers
A true design generalist, Shawna came to #open after working as a Designer and Product Advocate at Lyft. With her B.A. in Digital Technology & Cultures and Gender & Sexuality Studies, she’s a fierce advocate for inclusive design and technoethics. When she’s not working on making the world a more open place, she can be found covered in paint at her art studio in Seattle.
Director of Social Media & Lead Portal Developer
Gabrielle Noel
she/her/hers
A jill-of-all-trades, Gabrielle is a software developer with further experience in writing and digital marketing.
Founding Community Ambassadors
Tristan Taormino
she/her/hers
Tristan Taormino is a woman of many titles: feminist, author, activist, speaker, radio host, #open Trusted Advisor, and, most recently, Lead Community Ambassador. The amount of passion, charisma, and vigor she brings to the sex-positive, LGBTQ+, and kink communities is undeniable.
Cooper Beckett
he/him/his
You may know Cooper from the Life on the Swingset podcast, his books on polyamory and swinging, or from his new horror novel Osgood As Gone. Cooper is deeply immersed in the sex-positive, polyamory, and swinging scenes, co-organizes The Swingset Takes Desire and now lends his bisexual polyamorous male perspective to #open.
Elle Chase
she/her/hers
Elle is a certified sex educator, author, body acceptance and pleasure advocate who is also well known for her award winning, sex-positive, sensual images blog Lady Cheeky which was named the “#1 Porn Site for Women” by Cosmopolitan and HuffPost. Elle has been featured on ABC’s Nightline, The Today Show, and The New York Times and is a regular speaker at universities, in the podcastosphere, and all over the dial.
Erin Tillman
she/her/hers
We couldn’t be more excited to have Erin Tillman, "The Dating Advice Girl" herself, as a Community Ambassador. As a dating empowerment coach, the author of The Consent Guidebook, and the recipient of NOW’s 2018 Gender Equity Award, Erin is helping move #open in the right direction and it’s definitely a match!
Jaclyn Friedman
she/her/hers
Jaclyn is a writer, educator, consent expert, podcaster, and the activist who popularized "Yes means Yes." Jaclyn can be found on campuses and at conferences across the country working to put an end to campus sexual assault and advocating for women’s sexual liberation and empowerment.
Dr. Liz Powell
she/her/hers
As a licensed psychologist, Dr. Liz specializes in non-traditional relationships and sex education. She's a powerful advocate for meaningful, pleasureable relationships that go beyond the bedroom! As the author of the book Building Open Relationships, Dr. Liz and #open were meant to be.
Dirty Lola
she/her/hers
Bringing down the house as the producer and host of Sex Ed A Go Go and a well-known sex educator and speaker, Dirty Lola is ready to entertain and educate as a #open Community Ambassador! For the last six years, Lola has used her platform to encourage a warm, no holds barred approach to body and sex positivity.
Marla Stewart
she/her/hers
As the owner of Velvet Lips, the co-founder of the Sex Down South Conference, and a professor at Clayton State University, Marla “Queen of the South” Stewart is truly a renaissance woman! Marla’s diverse experience and unique perspective makes her a perfect fit as a #open Community Ambassador.
Twanna A. Hines
she/her/hers
Twanna is a writer who has graced the pages of The Guardian, Al Jazeera, Time Out New York, and Lifetime, to name a few. She’s appeared on CNN, NPR, Sirius, CBC, and other major networks as an award winning sex and relationship educator, and she doesn’t stop there: Twanna is also a performance artist, social activist, and proud cat parent.