OPW INTERVIEW - Nov 19 - VideoDate is an app that allows users to do their first date on their phone. It’s a great idea, in principal. I’m amazed their isn’t more competition from established players. - Mark Brooks
What's your founding story?
I started my mobile app after realizing that most dating apps were very one dimensional. They had limited options including pictures, brief descriptions and basic text messaging. Those apps leave the door wide open for fake profiles. With VideoDate, I wanted to raise the bar and help eliminate fake profiles and also allow people to have a real interaction prior to meeting in person.
What was your budget for starting the site and what funding did your raise?
I've funded my app completely myself and have raised 0 dollars. I spent in total $85k on my app.
How does the app work?
VideoDate is the Skype of mobile dating. We are a gps/ geo targeting app where you get to browse through profiles and choose to engage in live video communication directly over your mobile devices (patent pending). You can weed out the individuals you want to chat with easily and in addition to video chat you are able to send text messages, picture messages and in the very near future 90 second video messages.
Who's your competition?
As of now we have 2 other competitors - flikdate and date.fm. But we have more options and larger numbers.
How's it different from other iDating apps?
We offer many ways of finding love and connecting with specific desired audiences via distance (geo location/gps), orientation, race and much more. We also have picture messaging and live video chat. Soon we will offer actual video messaging as an in app purchase.
What's the most interesting feedback have you've had from your members about the app?
Members tend to really enjoy the live video chat and say it really helps with breaking the ice.
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