Meet Ashley

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ashley a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Ashley, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

As a Latina woman in tech, imposter syndrome wasn’t just a quiet voice in the back of my mind — it was woven into rooms where I was often the only woman, the only person of color, or both. I’d question if I belonged, if I was “technical enough,” or if I was being heard for my ideas or simply heard because I made sure to speak up.

What helped me overcome it wasn’t a single moment — it was learning to reframe my perspective. I realized imposter syndrome shows up most in spaces where people like me haven’t historically been represented. That doesn’t mean I don’t belong — it means I’m breaking ground.

I started keeping a private list of wins — moments where I shipped a product, led a team through a launch, got feedback from users that something I designed made them feel seen.

I surrounded myself with people — especially other women of color — who reflected back the truth: I earned my seat at the table. I’m not an imposter. I’m a builder. A disruptor. A necessary voice in rooms that need more of us.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I’m the founder of alyst, a dating app intentionally built for minority professionals who are tired of swiping, ghosting, and being underrepresented in traditional dating spaces. What makes alyst special is that it’s rooted in intentionality — not just connection. We verify profiles, prioritize cultural alignment, and eliminate the endless swipe loop to help people find real compatibility.

But the journey here hasn’t been easy. I spent two months fighting the Apple App Store review board to finally get accepted in March 2024. It was a frustrating and relentless process — but I refused to walk away from something I knew our community needed. That persistence paid off.

Most recently, I participated in Rutgers Business School’s Urban Tech Accelerator program and pitched alyst against six other startups. I won the Audience Choice Award and a $1,000 grant, which was a powerful moment of validation — not just for me, but for the people I built this for.

I also had the honor of being a guest on the Latina Leadership Podcast, where I shared more about my journey as a founder, the mission behind alyst, and what it means to build something by and for our community.

Now, we’re preparing to scale. Our focus is on growing in Los Angeles over the next few months. We’re hosting events, collaborating with local talent, and showing up in ways that feel real and community-driven. If you’re in LA, you’ll start seeing alyst pop up — and I hope you’ll be curious enough to check us out. We’re not just another dating app. We’re building something that reflects who we are — ambitious, intentional, and rooted in culture.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

1. Resilience
There were countless moments where I could’ve walked away — like when the App Store rejected alyst over and over, or when fundraising didn’t go as planned. But I kept going. Resilience doesn’t mean you don’t get discouraged — it means you move through it.

Advice: Build your bounce-back muscle. Rejections will come, but if the vision is clear, don’t let “no” stop you. Let it sharpen you.

2. Resourcefulness
I didn’t come from a background in app development or VC-backed startups. I had to figure things out as I went — from legal logistics to user acquisition to how to pitch effectively. I learned how to Google like a pro, how to ask for help, and how to turn feedback into momentum.

Advice: Don’t wait to be “ready.” Start where you are and trust that you can learn fast. Everything is figureoutable if you stay scrappy and curious.

3. Cultural Clarity
What made alyst stand out wasn’t just that it was a dating app — it was that it was designed for people like me. Knowing my audience — and building with intention for them — made our message resonate.

Advice: Don’t dilute your story. The more specific and culturally grounded your idea is, the more powerful it becomes. Build for people who have been overlooked, and do it unapologetically.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

Yes, we’re absolutely looking to partner and collaborate right now — especially as we prepare to scale alyst across Los Angeles.

We’re actively seeking:

Investors who believe in culturally driven, intentional platforms and want to back a Latina-founded dating app with strong early traction

Advisory board members with expertise in B2C marketing, growth strategy, or community-building — particularly those who have helped consumer apps scale in urban markets

Event partners or local businesses in LA who’d be excited to host a speed dating event, community panel, or let us sponsor an existing event where culture and connection are already thriving

We’re building something rooted in representation and purpose — and we want to collaborate with people and brands who share that vision.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Ashley Molina, Rutger’s Business School Center for Urban Entrepreneurship & Economic Development, Latina Leadership Podcast

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