LA BUSINESS JOURNAL - First Round's On Me, a dating app that launched nationwide in late August 2024 with $5M in funding, differentiates itself by requiring users to schedule a date within 24 hours of matching. Founded by Joe Feminella and inspired by his own relationship, the app seeks to provide a more authentic dating experience.
Dating App "First Round's On Me" Launches Nationwide
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'Throuples' Dating App Feeld Almost Doubles Turnover to £39.5M
THE GUARDIAN - Feeld, a dating app for non-monogamous and alternative relationships, nearly doubled its turnover in 2023, reaching £39.5M, up from £20.7M the previous year. Profits rose to £5.5M. Founded by Dimo Trifonov and Ana Kirova in 2014, the app has expanded globally, with £33M of its revenue now coming from outside the UK. Kirova became CEO in December 2023 and led a rebranding and technology upgrade. Ownership changes saw Kirova's stake increase to nearly 24% while Trifonov's share fell below 50%. Feeld now employs ~50 people.
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Flutrr and ALTRD Launch AI Music Tool for Personalized Dating
ANI PR - Flutrr, India's first vernacular dating app, has partnered with tech company ALTRD to introduce an AI-powered music tool that allows users to create personalized songs for their matches based on user inputs. Flutrr is targeting Tier 2 and Tier 3 Indian markets and supports multiple languages.
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Sisters Launch Dateability: a Dating App for People With Disabilities and Chronic Illnesses
PEOPLE - Two Colorado sisters, Jacqueline and Alexa Child, launched Dateability, a dating app for people with disabilities and chronic illnesses, providing a safe space for meaningful connections. The app allows users to disclose their conditions on their own terms and features a $4.99 subscription for more specific match filters. Inspired by Jacqueline's struggles with chronic illness and dating, the app aims to help users overcome fears of rejection and build confidence. It has already helped users find love, offering a unique platform for those often excluded from traditional dating apps.
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The League Bets People Will Pay Big to Mingle in Real Life
NEW YORK POST - The League, an exclusive dating app known for vetting its members, is expanding beyond the digital space by hosting upscale in-person events in New York, such as in the Hamptons and at the US Open. These events are part of a new hybrid model combining online dating with real-life interactions to offer a more curated experience.
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SLIDE - Upcoming Dating App for 18-28 Year Olds
LINKEDIN - Ethan Martin, known for creating the food and beverage ordering app ROUND, has spent the last 18 months developing a new dating app called SLIDE, aimed specifically at 18-28 year olds. In a recent podcast with Austin Okolo, Martin discussed what makes SLIDE different and why it's designed for this specific age group. You can listen to the podcast here.
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Grindr Looks Beyond Hookups to Build a Global 'Gayborhood'
ADWEEK - Grindr, the dating app for LGBTQ+ individuals, is expanding beyond hookups to emphasize community and diverse connections. During the US Open, it introduced a tennis-themed notification sound to engage users, highlighting the sport's popularity in the gay community. Grindr aims to redefine its image by promoting its use for friendships, travel tips, and community building, not just casual dating. With its global "gayborhood" concept, the platform is also addressing safety concerns, especially in countries where homosexuality is criminalized, while continuing to incorporate humor and sexuality in its brand identity.
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AI-Driven YouMatch App Raises $1.5M
PRESS RELEASE - YouMatch, an AI-driven dating app within the Telegram ecosystem, secured $1.5M in seed funding led by IOI Capital, marking the first external investment for a Telegram app. Launched in early 2024, YouMatch uses AI facial recognition and psychological tools like the DISC model to offer personalized matchmaking based on compatibility and behavioral analysis. The app targets Gen Z, emphasizing mindful and deeper connections over traditional swiping. The funds will be used for expansion in Europe, the US, and MENA regions, as well as further product development.
See full article at Globe Newswire
This post also appears on InternetDatingInvestments.com
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How Two Friends Quit Healthcare to Build Fourplay, a 60,000-User Dating App
BUSINESS INSIDER - Julie Griggs and Danielle Dietzek, former healthcare professionals, founded the dating app Fourplay in 2019 with no prior tech experience. They left their jobs in 2022 to run the startup full-time. Fourplay, which facilitates double dates, faced early challenges, including COVID-19 and technical issues, but the founders overcame them by hiring in-house developers. The app gained traction through user-generated content, particularly a viral TikTok video, and now boasts 60K users. They credit their success to learning from mistakes, leveraging their network, and adapting to the tech space despite their initial inexperience.
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Dating App Humpday Limits Matches to Boost Real-Life Connections
SMART COMPANY - Humpday, a new dating app launched in February, limits users to one match per day and only allows messaging on Wednesdays, aiming to reduce dating burnout. Co-founder Kara Zervides says the app's scarcity model drives quicker offline connections, with 20% of users going on real-world dates. Backed by $225K in pre-seed funding, Humpday has 4K users in Sydney and Melbourne, growing 55% monthly. The app also earns revenue from live singles events and date bookings, with plans to expand to the U.S. soon.
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Feeld and The Kinsey Institute: The State of Dating
YOUTUBE - In this livestream discussion, Kinsey Institute fellow, Dr. Justin Lehmiller, and Sy Dusk, Product Analyst at Feeld, explore the latest research findings on Gen Z's unique approach to sexuality and relationships.
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Tinder Update Targets College Students as Dating Apps Struggle
TECH CRUNCH - Tinder has updated its Tinder U feature to attract college students, introducing new profile badges for graduation year, major, and clubs, along with a simplified sign-up process and an exclusive app icon for iOS users. Tinder offers U.S. students 50% off premium plans to boost subscriptions and hosts the annual "Swipe Off" challenge, where the most swipe-active college wins a concert. These updates come as studies show declining app usage among students, though Tinder U still reports nearly 90% enrollment growth year over year, remaining popular among 18-year-olds. Tinder U, or Tinder Uni in the U.K., launched in 2018 and is available to students at four-year, accredited, nonprofit colleges and universities. Tinder U requires current students to enter a valid student email address.
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Gen Z and Millennials Are Leaving Tinder for Hinge in Search of Serious Relationships
FORTUNE - Tinder is struggling as its user growth flatlines, while Hinge is gaining popularity, especially among Gen Z and millennials seeking serious relationships. Hinge's daily active users increased by 17% YOY, while Tinder saw a 10% decrease. Hinge's appeal comes from being perceived as a platform for meaningful connections, while Tinder struggles with its reputation as a hookup app. Match Group faces the challenge of revamping Tinder to attract more serious daters without overlapping too much with Hinge's audience. Tinder is offering new tools like AI wingmen, developed through a deal with OpenAI, to help Gen Z users with flirting and profile design. Hinge focuses on features like limiting active conversations to promote quality interactions and its "Designed to be deleted" strategy, encouraging serious relationships. Tinder also offers "Super Boosts" and more affordable paid features to attract users, though these have seen limited success.
by Sasha Rogelberg
See full article at Fortune
See the top news on Tinder
See the top news on Hinge
See the top news on Match Group
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Fireside Chat With Colin Hodge, President of DOWN Dating App
LTR - Colin Hodge, President and Co-Founder of DOWN Dating App, shares the fascinating journey of creating the app, originally known as Bang with Friends. He discusses how the app was born from a spontaneous idea, quickly became a viral sensation, and underwent significant transformations, including a rebrand and a challenging removal from the Apple App Store. Despite these hurdles, Colin emphasizes perseverance and staying true to their mission of promoting sex-positive, shame-free dating. He also highlights the app's evolution, including innovative features like Snap Match, which connects users internationally for real-time flirting and cultural exchange.
[**See the video here on Youtube**]
The August LTR was kindly sponsored by ParshipMeet Group, RealMe, Dating Through Curiosity, along with Courtland Brooks and Matchmaker.com
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