Playtomic: The Sports App Turning Matches Into Dates
FAST COMPANY – Playtomic started as a simple tool to book courts and find people to play with, but it has evolved into a social platform. It matches strangers into games based on skill level, and those interactions often continue off the court. People end up building friendships and, in some cases, relationships.
Schmooze Unveils Voice AI Matchmaker ‘Riya’
INC42 – Schmooze, a Bengaluru-based dating app with ~5M users and a meme-led matching format, has launched ‘Riya’, a voice-based AI matchmaker. The feature engages users in conversations to understand their personality and recommend more compatible matches. It has already reached ~300K users and doubled retention.
Parship Study: Singles Over 40 Are Happier Than Gen Z Despite Smaller Social Circles
PARSHIP – A study by Parship finds that singles over 40 are more satisfied with life than Gen Z, despite having smaller social circles. Younger people report higher levels of loneliness, even though they have larger network. The difference comes down to quality over quantity: older singles focus on fewer, deeper relationships and are more confident in meeting new people.
Dutch Company Behind 1,600 Fake Dating Sites in 32 Countries
NL TIMES – Four Fingers Management, a Dutch company, is linked to 1,623 fake dating sites across 32 countries. Users chat with employees posing as fake profiles and are led to believe real meetings are possible, while paying per message. In 2018, the Authority for Consumers & Markets (ACM) raided several fake dating companies and imposed fines. The regulator now calls the findings “very concerning,” but has not said whether it will investigate Four Fingers Management.
Bumble Boosts: Subscription Upgrades Driving Revenue
AD HOC NEWS – Bumble Boost enhances swiping with premium perks like extended likes and rematches. This premium upgrade unlocks features like unlimited swipes, spotlights to boost visibility, and the ability to extend matches before they expire. For a weekly, monthly, or lifetime fee, members get perks like Beeline access to see who liked them first. SuperSwipes to show extra interest, and Incognito mode for private browsing.
India Weighs Mandatory KYC, Age Checks for Online Social Platforms
BIOMETRIC UPDATE – India is considering mandatory KYC for social media, dating, and gaming platforms, which would require users to verify their identity and reduce anonymity. India is also considering age-based restrictions for social media users under 18. The plan would use age verification tools and apply different rules to groups aged 8–12, 12–16, and 16–18, with a law expected later this year. The proposals aim to improve safety around cybercrime, abuse, and deepfakes, but raise concerns about privacy, enforcement, and overregulation.
Eight, the Portuguese Dating App, Is Raising a €3M Seed Round
TNW – Eight is a Portuguese dating app currently raising €3M, with about €256K secured so far. It is currently available in Portugal and the UK. CEO Afonso Simão previously founded Miofar, a fitness brand he grew to ~$1.2M in revenue. Every night between 8 and 9pm, human-verified users log in, browse 30s video introductions from other members, and unlock 8-minute live video calls with anyone they match with. Chat is only enabled after both sides say yes to a call. Human verification is a core feature.
AI Ranks Tinder Photos by Comparing Them and Learning From User Engagement
LIFE AT TINDER – Tinder uses AI to rank profile photos so the ones most likely to perform well are shown first. The system compares photos against each other and learns from real user interactions, such as which images get more likes. Earlier models focused mainly on visual quality. The newer approach uses Vision-Language Models, which also interpret context – things like social cues, setting, and overall impression. This results in more accurate rankings and better outcomes, such as higher engagement and more matches.
Pure Dating App Is Launching in London and Paris
PURE – After a US campaign in NYC and LA, the safety-first dating app for Gen Z is launching in Europe. PURE is rolling out a six-week campaign across London and Paris focused on real-world experiences and local activations. Pure closed 2025 with $100M in annual gross revenue, 95% YOY registration growth, and 46% revenue growth. The app now ranks among the top 8 grossing lifestyle apps in the US, the UK, and France. The product positions itself as an alternative to swipe-based apps, focusing on safety, privacy, and more intentional connections, with features like verification tools, disappearing chats, and AI moderation.