Online Personals Watch: News on the Online Dating Industry and Business

Chapter 2 Dating Seeks £150K to Scale Niche Apps

OPW - Chapter 2 Dating is seeking £150K in investment to scale its three niche dating platforms designed for underserved communities. Chapter 2 Dating supports widows and widowers looking for long-term relationships, WidowsFire offers a space for intimacy within the bereaved community, and SoberLove connects sober and sober-curious individuals seeking relationships outside alcohol-focused environments. Launched in 2022, the company has ~20K users across the UK, US, Canada, and Australia, and has previously raised £250K from 14 investors across three rounds. It reported a 27% increase in monthly active users last quarter and a 405% YOY growth in recurring revenue.

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Chapter 2 Dating Seeks £150K to Expand

BUSINESS CLOUD - Nicky Wake, founder of Chapter 2 Dating, is seeking £150K in investment to scale her portfolio of niche dating apps aimed at widows, widowers, and sober individuals. Launched in 2022, the business includes platforms like WidowsFire.dating and SoberLove.app, and now has ~20K users across the UK, US, Canada, and Australia. The round, based on a £3M valuation, is approved under the UK's Enterprise Investment Scheme. Revenue is up 405% YOY, with the US now contributing 40% of income.

See full article at Business Cloud

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This post also appears on InternetDatingInvestments.com

Americans Shift Dating App Locations to Canada Amid Political Frustration

THE STAR - Since Trump's re-election, dating platforms have seen a rise in Americans, especially women, changing their app locations to Canada in search of partners and political alignment. MapleMatch, a dating app created for U.S.-Canada connections, reported 5,500 new users since Nov 2024, with 1K signing up on election day. Matchmakers and coaches confirm increased interest in Canadian cities like Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal, citing political dissatisfaction and a desire for stability. Chapter 2 Dating noted a doubling of U.S. requests to connect with Canadian users since Trump's inauguration.

by Samantha Fink
See full article at The Star

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Chapter 2 Releases Report on Widowed Dating Challenges

CHAPTER 2 - Chapter 2's report, Love After Loss: Rediscovering Joy and Connection, reveals the challenges widows and widowers face when dating again. 90% say their late partner's memory influences new relationships, 71% feel uncomfortable with modern dating, and 46% struggle with online platforms. Timing is another hurdle, with 22% feeling they waited too long and 15% starting too soon. Family plays a key role, as 80% have children to consider.

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Chapter2 Dating App Expands Overseas

BURYTIMES.CO.UK - Nicky Wake launched Chapter2, a dating app for widows and widowers, in the UK in November 2022. After gaining thousands of users and success stories, including friendships and an engagement, she is now expanding the app to America, Canada, and Australia. Chapter2 provides a safe space for widows to find friendship and companionship. The app launched in America and Australia on July 4 and will debut in Canada on July 8. To celebrate, free premium access will be available in all three countries until early next year.

by James Mutch
See full article at BuryTimes.co.uk

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Chapter 2: a Dating App by and for Widows and Widowers

READERS DIGEST - Nicky Wake, inspired by her own experiences as a widow and the challenges of online dating, founded Chapter 2, a dating app specifically for widows and widowers. The app focuses on creating a community and a safe space for those who have lost their partners. It provides various features, including forums, blog posts, and monthly meet-ups, to support users not just in dating but also in coping with widowhood. Chapter 2's user base is diverse, with an average age of 45+, and the oldest member being 96. The app also offers a sister site, Widow's Fire, catering to those seeking less committed, more casual relationships. The app is free to join, with premium features available for a fee, and it has successfully facilitated relationships, emphasizing moving forward rather than moving on after loss.

by Georgia Harris
See full article at Readers Digest

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Chapter 2 Reveals Study on 'Widow's Fire' and Post-Bereavement Sexual Intimacy

CHAPTER2 - 'Widow's fire' is a term denoting the strong sexual desire experienced following the death of a partner. Recent research has found that 63% of widows and widowers experience this phenomenon, with 58% beginning to feel these urges within 6 months of their partner's passing. The average widow or widower waits about a year and three months before engaging in sexual relations with a new partner. The study also revealed that many widows and widowers become more sexually adventurous and experimental after their partner's death. To support widows and widowers in exploring these natural urges, Chapter 2, the UK dating app for widows and widowers is launching a sister-app called WidowsFire in June 2023. The app is 'all about the physical' with other widows and widowers and seeks to offer a fun and flirty place to explore natural urges.

See full article at Chapter2 website

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Chapter2 Expands Globally

BUSINESS CLOUD - Chapter 2, the UK dating app for widows and widowers, is expanding globally after attracting ~2K subscribers since its launch in Nov 2022. Founder Nicky Wake, who created the app after struggling with mainstream dating apps following the death of her husband, plans to launch the service in the US in June 2023 and Australia in Sep 2023. The app offers a safe space for widows and widowers to explore dating on their own terms and has three subscription options: friendship and companionship, casual dating, and serious relationships.

See full article at Business Cloud

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Chaper Two, a New Dating App for Widowed, Asks for Death Certificate

WALES ONLINE - Nicky Wake, who lost her husband aged 49, has launched a dating app for widows hoping to find love again. Users must provide their late spouse's death certificate or a memorial FB account to get in. She said dating again after being widowed was like the "wild west". She experienced unsolicited pictures, went on dates, then realized the men were married and almost went out with a man with a criminal record. She launched the app Chapter Two in November.

by Neil Shaw
See full article at Wales Online