Dating in Singapore: What’s Missing?

Columbia-educated clinical psychologist Shazaf Moonis has made it her mission to rethink how people connect. What began as Linkked for Business – a platform for meaningful professional networks – has grown into Linkked for Life, a psychologist-led relationship service bringing dignity, trust and safety back into dating in Singapore. We spoke to Shazaf about her journey and why “single safety” matters.

A closer look at Linkked for Life, a relationship and dating service in Singapore

What brought you to Singapore?

We came to Singapore when my husband’s job in banking brought us here from the US. It was meant to be a short stint, but we ended up loving it. I began working at NUS as a clinical psychologist, and a few years later, our son was born. It’s been 16 years now – we’re PRs – and this is home. It wasn’t the plan, but it’s where both my personal and professional life took root.

Tell us about your background and how Linkked began.

I’m originally from Pakistan and moved to the US in my 20s, where I studied at Columbia. After graduating, I built my career in New York as a clinical psychologist and became a US citizen.

After moving to Singapore, I continued clinical work, but becoming a parent pushed me to think beyond the therapy room. That’s when I founded Linkked in 2018 to help professionals build authentic relationships at work.

I later joined Meta, where I led employee wellbeing and psychological safety. Now, I’m back to growing Linkked full-time and have expanded it to include Linkked for Life, a private, psychologist-led relationship service, a platform for high-calibre individuals who value integrity, emotional depth and safety in a world overwhelmed by dating apps and dating is Singapore in general.

What made you take the leap from psychology and corporate into something new?

I’ve always been drawn to doing things differently, and honestly, that freedom only really comes when you’re building something from the ground up.

It’s not the easier path, and that’s where your support system matters; this is fitting, because it’s exactly what my business is built on. I’ve been lucky to have friends, family and even strangers believe in the vision – that gave me the courage to keep going.

Just a few years in, I was honoured to be recognised by TEDx and Women in Asia as a business leading with purpose. It affirmed that doing things with heart and on your own terms is more rewarding.

Tell us more about why you created Linkked for Life; what was missing from dating in Singapore?

As a clinician, I kept hearing stories of heartbreak, trust broken, and the silent shame of being single. It became clear that a lot of emotional pain starts with unsafe or mismatched relationships. I didn’t want to just help people recover, I wanted to prevent the harm.

Linkked for Life is built around trust and safety, filling the gaps left by modern dating in Singapore. Every member, and their referrals, undergoes rigorous screening to assess emotional readiness and alignment with our standards. Only then are they invited to join. Introductions are professionally facilitated, with structured follow-ups to ensure clarity, support and closure. No one is left to navigate alone.

We also offer relational safety coaching to help people build self-awareness, safeguard their emotional wellbeing and navigate the dating journey, no matter what path they choose.

How is it different from dating apps or matchmaking services in Singapore?

We offer what traditional platforms miss: psychological depth, emotional safety and dignity. In a world where mental health challenges are rising, connection alone isn’t enough, it needs to support wellbeing.

Every part of our model is grounded in psychological safety. But this isn’t just a service. It’s a movement. We’re challenging the pressures that lead people to ignore red flags.

And it isn’t just about singles. Parents whose teens or adult children are dating, friends watching loved one’s struggle, anyone who cares about emotional wellbeing is a stakeholder in this conversation.

When I speak, I’m not selling a service, I’m advocating for single safety. Because relationship safety isn’t just personal, it’s societal. You coined the term “single safety”.

What do you want people to understand about Single Safety?

Single safety means raising the standard, where relationships begin with respect, not fear, and being single doesn’t mean being unsafe.

But safety isn’t just personal, it’s cultural. Too often, we unintentionally shame singles, pressure them to settle, or erode their self-worth without even realising it. That’s why awareness matters for all of us.

Dating risk is often seen as a women’s issue, and yes, those risks are real. But men are harmed too. They’re disproportionately targeted in scams, ghosted more often, and taught to hide vulnerability. The result? Many are silently unravelling, because we’ve failed, as a culture, to give men the space to express emotional pain without shame.

There is so much more to this conversation, but the first step is to stop seeing single safety as a solo fight and start owning it as a shared responsibility.

This feels like more than just a business – why is it personal?

I’ve sat with countless clients – brilliant, kind, successful – who were unravelling after being emotionally exploited or manipulated. And I kept thinking: we work so hard to protect our careers, our finances, even our data, but our emotional lives are often left unguarded.

It’s personal because I’ve also experienced the opposite. I’ve been lucky to have a marriage built on mutual respect and unconditional love. I know what a healthy relationship can do for someone’s sense of safety and self. Everyone deserves a relationship that builds, not breaks them. That’s why I do this work.

What’s been the biggest challenge so far?

Building something that doesn’t fit in a box. People often try to compare Linkked for Life to matchmaking or apps – but it’s something entirely different.

We’re creating trusted communities, teaching people to protect their self-worth, and designing connection through psychological integrity, not just swipes or checklists.

I’ve built it from scratch and intentionally turned down funding that might compromise our values. We’re people-first, not profit-first. That’s not just a model, it’s a promise.

What’s next?

I’m focused on growing Linkked for Life to the same level of impact as Linkked for Business. But the vision goes beyond dating. It’s about restoring dignity to the single experience and raising the bar for how we connect. Relationship safety is a collective responsibility, and we all have a role to play.

Find out more about this dating platform in Singapore

Linkked for Life is currently welcoming new members and offering a complimentary 20-minute consultation for those exploring a more intentional approach to dating in Singapore. Rooted in single safety, the platform pairs curated introductions with expert-led coaching to help individuals navigate today’s dating pressures, rebuild trust, and form purposeful relationships

concierge@getlinkked.com | shazaf@getlinkked.com
IG @shazaf_moonis | getlinkked.com

This article on a dating service in Singapore first appeared in the September 2025 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase the latest issue or subscribe, so you never miss a copy!

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