Quick links to today's dating news headlines.
How Indian Dating App Aisle Is Trying to Make Dating Locally Relevant
THE DRUM - India-born da ing site Aisle wants to be the 'high-intent dating app', founded by Able Joseph, who is also the CEO of the company. The cultural uniqueness makes India a complex market, even in categories such as love and dating. Joseph says: "Although the entry of western apps warmed people to online dating, they don't fully match up to Indian dating needs." Aisle completed seven years in 2022, and has built a community of ~7M members and a consistent position in the top three on revenue charts. Recently Info Edge, one of the largest tech public companies in India, behind brands such as Naukri, Jeevansaathi, 99 acres and Shiksha, acquired 76% of Aisle. According to Joseph: "Aisle does not fall into the same category as most casual dating apps, nor is it a conservative matrimony app - it aims to empower users to independently find a partner and forge long-lasting relationships."
| |
A New Dating App Asks: Do Our Stars Align?
NEW YORK TIMES - Ilios is part of a constellation of popular apps, including Co-Star, Sanctuary, the Pattern and Nebula, that aim to illuminate interpersonal connections using astrological signs. There was a "silent launch" in Los Angeles in May 2021, then a "restricted launch" in Austin in November 2021, and a party that Ilios hosted with the University of Texas. There's a lifestyle compatibility score, numerology score, as well as an overall compatibility score.
| |
Swiping Right On AI
FORBES - Jennifer Flashman, Tinder's director of analytics, explained that in leveraging AI to build better user experiences, the future of dating will increasingly occur over texts and DMs rather than blind dates and phone calls. AI apps are only as good as the data behind them. AI can help recommend the perfect TV show, and it can even help us find a life partner. Hinge has a "Most Compatible" feature, which analyzes a user's preferences and sends recommendations of matches that it thinks will be a particularly good fit. Coffee Meets Bagel shares a selection of curated profiles for users to look at each day at noon via their "smart algorithm". AI could even help combat catfishing and creepy messages. Tinder's "Are You Sure?" algorithm scans messages and compares them against text that's been reported for inappropriate language in the past.
by James Freeze
See full article at Forbes
See the top news on Tinder
See the top news on Hinge
See the top news on Coffee Meets Bagel
| |
Data Privacy and Harassment Could Spoil Grindr's Wall Street Romance
PROTOCOL - Introduced in 2009, Grindr pioneered the use of then-new iPhone location features to show nearby users ready to chat or go further. On May 9, Grindr announced it planned to go public through a SPAC deal that would value the company at $2.1B, almost 10 times what it sold for four years ago. If shareholders approve the merger, Grindr will finally be a public company. Grindr primarily makes money off ads, with some revenue from user subscriptions for premium features. ~94% of Grindr's 11M monthly active users worldwide use it for free, according to an investor presentation. The company is promising investors that there's $14 trillion to be made serving the LGBTQ+ community. Grindr had revenue of $104.5M in 2020, growing ~40% to $145.8M in 2021. Grindr lost $13.1M in 2020 and made $5.1M last year. Grindr has been criticized for weak privacy protections. It also has comparatively sparse resources devoted to moderating its 11M monthly active users: According to the company, it has 75 moderators contracted through the company PartnerHero. Grindr recently partnered with Spectrum Labs, an AI company, to help scale its content moderation.
| |
Match Group and Google Reach an Interim Compromise Over App Payments
TECH CRUNCH - Match Group is getting along better with Google. On Friday, Match withdrew its request for a temporary restraining order against Google, which it accuses of wielding unfair monopoly power in its mobile app marketplace. Match filed an antitrust lawsuit against Google earlier this month over the company's restrictions on Android in-app payments, which drive app users toward remaining in its mobile ecosystem. The company filed the temporary restraining order request a day after suing Google.
| |
Lolly - TikTok-style Dating App
YAHOO FINANCE - Lolly is a new app using short video formats to get Gen Zers to find their bae. The app has raised $2.5M from some of the best investors in Silicon Valley, including Ron Conway. Millions of videos are watched on the platform a week, according to Lolly co-founder and CEO Marc Baghadjian.
| |
Dating News Headlines: Aisle, ilios, Gleeden
Quick links to today's dating news headlines.
- How Challenger Indian Brand Aisle Is Trying to Make Dating Locally Relevant - The Drum
- A New Dating App Asks: Do Our Stars Align? - NY Times
- Swiping Right on AI: How Dating Apps Are Raising the Bar for Successful UX - Forbes
- Why Do Couples Commit Infidelity? Survey Finds Four Major Reasons - Times of India
| |
LTR SUMMIT NYC - Deep Sharing, New Connections
OPW - See event website and speakers at ltrnyc.splashthat.com.
Well, I'd say this was certainly my favorite SUMMIT so far. We tried something a bit different this time. No powerpoints. No one complained about not having powerpoints, but I think next time we'll make them optional, with most presentations being non-powerpoint.
A couple of presentations had us in tears. Really, this was a chance to get to know other dating and online social community leaders. The LTR SUMMITs are distinct from the online LTR Mini-Conferences because we don't record and share them afterward. The role of the LTR SUMMITs is to help us connect, learn & share, and find and form some non-competitive alliances.
The next LTR SUMMIT will be in Singapore on Tue 19th July. If you are part of IDEA or OSCA, please email me to apply to attend at mark@courtlandbrooks.com. Attendance is limited to senior leaders in the online dating and online social community space, and everyone is a speaker.
| |