Website: www.spark.net
Company profile: As a leading provider of online personals services in the United States and internationally, Spark Networks has been helping people make connections and foster meaningful relationships since 1997. Combining the power of technology with our deep commitment to your happiness, our specialized Web sites aim to provide a fun and convenient meeting point for millions of singles each year. On Valentine′s Day 2006, Spark Networks shares began trading on the American Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “LOV.”
Date started: 1997 (by Joe Y. Shapira and Alon Carmel), originally named JDate, later
company incorporates in England and Wales as MatchNet plc, in 2004
changes its name to Spark Network Inc.
Current CEO: Michael S. Egan (since Dec 2014)
Past CEOs: Michael McConnell (2014)
Greg Liberman
Adam Berger
David E. Siminoff
Todd Tappin
Joe Y. Shapira, Alon Carmel (founders)
Traffic:
www.spark.net 307,113 unique visitors (Compete July 15)
www.spark.com 29,875 unique visitors (Compete July 15)
www.jdate.com 110,005 unique visitors (Compete July 15)
Revenue: $12 million for the second quarter of 2015 ($95k loss) (www.spark.net)
Users: 38 million registered users (www.spark.net, Jan 10)
4.75 – 5 million unique monthly visitors
200-300 million monthly page views
Owners: Spark Networks, Inc. (Osmium Partners owns 14.2% stake)
Acquisitions: year 2000 – it bought San Mateo, California-based do You2.com
year 2001 – it acquired SocialNet Inc.
year 2003 – it purchased the assets of Point Match Ltd., which included
JDate’s competitors, JCupid and the leading internet personals service in
Israel, Cupid.co.il.
year 2004 – it acquired MingleMatch
year 2006 – it acquired HurryDate and the assets of Stu & Lew
year 2009 – it acquired Engage.com
Blog: JDate.com blog
Number of employees: 200 (LinkedIn, July 14)
Based in: Beverly Hills, CA, USA
Telephone: +1 323 658 3000 (Beverly Hills headquarters)
+09 9701700 (Izrael)
+1 801 377 6411 (Provo)
+1 323 658 3000, ext. 4015 (investor contact)
Email: contact form
Ad agency: July 2009 – BlackSingles.com® and HurryDate® Partner with Eizzil
Entertainment (promotion of SPEED-DATING Film Campaign to Kick Off with
Launch Party Featuring SPEED-DATING Cast Members in Los Angeles)
Promotion channels used:
= affiliate programs
Spark Networks – sites
· AdventistSinglesConnection.com
· AsianSinglesConnection.com
· BlackChristianSingles.com
· BlackSingles.com
· CanadianPersonals.net
· CatholicMingle.com
· ChristianMingle.com
· CollegeLuv.com
· Cupid.co.il
· Date.co.uk
· DeafSinglesConnection.com
· Facelink.com
· GreekSinglesConnection.com
· IndianMatrimonialNetwork.com
· InterracialSingles.net
· ItalianSinglesConnection.com
· JDate.co.il
· JDate.co.uk
· JDate.com
· JewishMingle.com
· Kizmeet
· LatinSinglesConnection.com
· LDSMingle.com
· LDSSingles.com
· MilitarySinglesConnection.com
· Moretolove.com
· SingleParentsMingle.com
· SingleSeniorsMeet.com
· Spark.com (unites members from AmericanSingles®.com and Date.ca)
· UKSinglesConnection.com
Key Dates
· 1997: Joe Shapira and Alon Carmel launch JDate.
· 1998: The company incorporates in England and Wales as MatchNet plc.
· 1999: MatchNet institutes charges for its web-based services in the United States; the company sells a stake to the German company Endemann Internet AG.
· 2000: MatchNet plc begins to sell on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange; MatchNet buys doYou2.com.
· 2003: The company purchases FaceLink.com and the assets of Point Match Ltd.
· 2004: The company starts charging for its services in the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, and Canada; Shapira and Carmel are replaced by Todd Tappin and then David Siminoff.
· 2005: The company changes its name to Spark Networks plc.
· 2007: Adam Berger becomes chief executive; the company reincorporates in Delaware and is delisted from the Frankfurt Stock Exchange; common stock begins trading on the American Stock Exchange.
· 2010: Spark Networks launched Believe.com
· 2011: Greg Liberman becomes CEO
· 2014: 4 Osmium Partners (major Spark Networks stockholder) nominees were elected to the board of directors
· 2014: Greg Liberman leaves his position of CEO, Michael McConnell taking over the role of executive chairman while Spark looks for a new CEO
· 2015: HurryDate was shut down
· 2015: Michael J. McConnell will step down from his position as Interim Executive Chairman on January 2, 2015, but will retain his role as Chairman of the Board of Directors. Michael S. Egan is the new CEO.
Spark Networks news on OnlinePersonalsWatch
Courtland Brooks clients can access the top 20 company profiles.
