OPW – Feb 2 – Thread.com, despite $1.2 million in funding from gold VC group Sequioa, is now kaput. Shame. The Thread.com link drove to likeevents.com for a while, and now it just drives to Agora.com, a 'passport for life and work.' Another dud site. RIP Thread.com. Congratulations Zoosk, for stealing their thunder.
Yup real shame, but to be expected really – dating companies MUST NOT try to differentiate themselves using a technology trick that can be easily copied. They need a big database of members – the only way to really do that efficiently is to use a platform, differentiate themselves on brand, acquisition method and user experience. That’s the way to profit.
Double shame that the team at Thread don’t appear to have tried to sell the business though – we would have been interested in the technology as I’m sure would other companies.
Ross
Yup real shame, but to be expected really – dating companies MUST NOT try to differentiate themselves using a technology trick that can be easily copied. They need a big database of members – the only way to really do that efficiently is to use a platform, differentiate themselves on brand, acquisition method and user experience. That’s the way to profit.
Double shame that the team at Thread don’t appear to have tried to sell the business though – we would have been interested in the technology as I’m sure would other companies.
Ross
I wouldn’t say Zoosk stole Thread’s thunder.. they were never on the radar…
I wouldn’t say Zoosk stole Thread’s thunder.. they were never on the radar…
Agree. Zoosk was way ahead by then. Badoo.com, areyouinterested.com proving you can succeed in social/dating space.
Also interesting in that Digg-founder, Kevin Rose, was one of the backers of Thread.com.
Agree. Zoosk was way ahead by then. Badoo.com, areyouinterested.com proving you can succeed in social/dating space.
Also interesting in that Digg-founder, Kevin Rose, was one of the backers of Thread.com.
I think this was also a marketing problem. Zoosk is kinda fun quirky to say. the Thread name is just awkward for a dating site. I think “thread the needle” but I really hate needles and anything associated with them, so that makes me hesistant to join the site. Some times the technology is great, but if the marketing is not right, there is no chance it will succeed.
I think this was also a marketing problem. Zoosk is kinda fun quirky to say. the Thread name is just awkward for a dating site. I think “thread the needle” but I really hate needles and anything associated with them, so that makes me hesistant to join the site. Some times the technology is great, but if the marketing is not right, there is no chance it will succeed.