BUSINESSWIRE – Seeking has launched its Anti 50/50 Campaign featuring actress Julia Fox, offering a $50K fund to reimburse singles up to $50 if they were asked to split the bill on a date. Seeking’s research found that 61% of Gen Z women have been asked to split a first-date bill, while 75% of women prefer men to take the lead in planning and paying. The campaign runs until February 10, 2027, or until the fund is exhausted.
MULTIBAGG – Matrimony.com reported net profit of Rs 39.8 crore ($4.2M) for the first half of FY27, up 146.6% YOY. Matchmaking revenue rose 15.7% to Rs 263.4 crore ($28M), while matchmaking EBITDA jumped 89.2% to Rs 74.7 crore ($8M). Paid subscriptions increased 14.6% to 570K, while marketing spending remained nearly flat at Rs 91.8 crore ($9.8M).
WIRED – Grindr is rolling out its $120-a-month premium Edge subscription worldwide on November 17, with membership limited to 1% of its 16M monthly users. Edge includes AI-powered recommendations that assess compatibility and the likelihood of a reply, a feature for resurfacing past connections, and a separate design and interface. Grindr says it will deliberately limit membership to maintain exclusivity, with the potential for higher pricing over time. The global launch follows tests in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
DEALROOM – Matrimony.com is acquiring an additional 50% stake in astrology software company Astro-Vision Futuretech for ₹8 crore ($852K), increasing its ownership from 26.09% to 76.09%. Astro-Vision provides astrology software and content in ~10 Indian languages and has generated ~110M horoscopes. Matrimony.com says many of its matchmaking customers already use Astro-Vision for horoscope predictions, and expects the acquisition to strengthen the integration of astrology into its services. The deal is expected to close within three months.
HOGAN LOVELLS CADWALADER – A leaked draft of the EU’s Digital Fairness Act would introduce tougher consumer protection rules for digital businesses. Proposed measures include bans on dark patterns, restrictions on addictive design and personalised pricing, tighter rules for influencer marketing, and new protections around subscriptions, free trials and automatic renewals. Businesses could also be required to provide easy online cancellation and access to human customer service. The proposal, expected to be formally presented on November 11, would apply directly across EU member states and strengthen enforcement of unfair digital practices.
FORBES – Chapter 2, the dating platform for widows and widowers founded by Nicky Wake, has grown to 25K members across the U.S., U.K., Australia, and Canada. Wake has raised ~$600K, largely from Chapter 2 users, and is preparing for another funding round. “Our biggest supporters are those who use the service,” she said. The platform charges $34.99 a month for messaging and requires members to verify their identity and widowed status. Chapter 2 has produced five marriages so far, while Wake is now adding in-person events and developing an AI companion for widows.
GRINDR – Grindr reported Q3 2026 revenue of $141M, up 22%, and raised its full-year revenue forecast to $560M with adjusted EBITDA of $236M. The company expects at least $705M in revenue and $275M in adjusted EBITDA in 2027. Grindr is launching its new premium Edge tier this month and has completed its acquisition of Freddie parent PurposeMed, expanding its healthcare business.
TECHBULLION – Genza has launched its gamified dating app in the U.S., starting in Los Angeles with an initial focus on UCLA and Westwood. Instead of swiping through photos, users create 3D avatars and complete interactive quests that build a “Vibe Code” based on their personality, values, and preferences. AI uses 30 personality traits to suggest two matches at a time, who can then chat and play games together before their photos are gradually revealed. Genza says its soft launch attracted more than 2,000 users, and the app is now available on iOS and Android.
TURKISH MINUTE – Turkey has blocked access to nine dating and social platforms, including OkCupid, Feeld, GROWLR, Zoe and Lex. Bindr, u4Bear, Disco and TheBlowers were also blocked under the court order, with no reason given for the decision. It follows a separate ruling in June that blocked 14 platforms, including Taimi, SCRUFF, Jack’d and ROMEO. Grindr has been inaccessible in Turkey since 2013.
OPW – I mean, is it really an attractive business now? Can it be built into an attractive property quickly? Can it be ‘packaged’ for sale and run out to the top potential acquirers so they arrive at the gate at the same point in time? Perhaps my team and I can help.
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