Month: January 2015

Crowd Mobile Buys Hong Kong Start-up Kiss Hugs

Posted on January 23, 2015

Kisshugs logoSOUTH CHINA MORNING POST – Jan 22 – Kiss Hugs, a mobile dating app, was launched in November 2013 and Hong Kong-based angel investor Bigcolors took a 12.5% stake in the company a month later, providing most of its seed capital. With the sale of Kiss Hugs, Bigcolors has made a return of 5.6 times on its investment in the space of a year. Crowd Mobile notes that Asia is an attractive market for its high level of smartphone usage and significant growth in in-app spending.

by Howard Winn
See full article at South China Morning Post

This post also appears on InternetDatingInvestments.

Summarized by Courtland Brooks Internet Dating Marketing Consulting

Andrew Weinreich Launches Intensive Startup Bootcamp

Posted on January 23, 2015

Andrews roadmapsTECH CRUNCH – Jan 22 – Weinreich, the founder of dating app MeetMoi, is joining the ranks of business schools, serial entrepreneurs and even national foundations offering startup entrepreneurs a compressed education in how to succeed in (starting up) a business. Rather than charge hefty fees to participants, Weinreich is partnering with service professionals like the law firm Goodwin Procter and others to defray the cost of the two-day program Weinreich calls "Roadmaps To Entrepreneurship".

by Jonathan Shieber
See full article at Tech Crunch

Summarized by the Courtland Brooks team

‘Invisible Boyfriend’ The World’s Saddest Dating App

Posted on January 23, 2015

Invisible boyfriend girlfriend logosTECH TIMES – Jan 21 – "Invisible Girlfriend and Invisible Boyfriend" are the result of one man's frustration, and a little bit of desperation. Co-founder Matt Homann was newly divorced and tired of feeling pressured to jump into something new. Subscribers can choose a name, personality, age, race, hairstyle and photo for their new virtual companion – or, can have the app build one for them. Features include having fake texting conversations, fake phone calls and receiving fake handwritten letters, all in a bid to fool family and friends into thinking you're not as lonely as they think.

by Steven Schneider
See full article at Tech Times

See all posts on InvisibleGirlfriend / InvisibleBoyfriend

Summarized by Courtland Brooks Internet Dating Marketing Consulting

Tinder Founder Is Still CEO

Posted on January 23, 2015

Tinder sean rad jan 15NY POST – Jan 21 – Nearly four months after his very public ouster from the mobile matchmaking app, the Tinder co-founder still sits in the IAC-controlled company’s chief executive seat, the company said Wednesday.

by Richard Morgan
See full article at The New York Post

See all posts on Tinder

Summarized by Courtland Brooks Internet Dating Marketing Consulting

The 2015 iDate Awards Are…..

Posted on January 22, 2015

Idate awards 2015OPW – Jan 22 – The 2015 iDate Awards ceremony took place in Las Vegas last night. We are proud to announce the following award winners:

Best Dating Site:
Match.com

Best Mobile Dating App:
Tinder.com

Best Marketing Campaign:
eHarmony.com

Best Dating Software & SAAS:
DatingPro.com

Most Innovative Company:
Zoosk.com

Best Matchmaker:
Paul Carrick Brunson

Best Payment System:
Paymentwall.com 

Best Dating Coach:
Paul Carrick Brunson

Best Dating Affiliate Program:
Dream-Marriage.com

Best Product Design:
LetsMeetup.com

Best New Technology:
VerifiedByCam.com

Best Up And Coming Dating Site:
JustAskMeOut.co.uk

Best Niche Dating Site:
Dream-Marriage.com

Post by Courtland Brooks Internet Dating Marketing Consulting

Etisalat UAE Blocks Tinder App

Posted on January 21, 2015

Etisalat logoTELECOMPAPER – Jan 20 – When accessing the website GoTinder.com via an Etisalat connection, the webpage is redirected to a blocked page message. It says the site falls under the Prohibited Content Categories of the UAE's Internet Access Management Policy. Internet dating is banned for contradicting the ethics and morals of the UAE. Du subscribers do not appear to have the same problem.

See full article at Telecompaper

See all posts on Tinder

Summarized by Courtland Brooks Internet Dating Marketing Consulting

Topeka Capital Sees Ad Potential In Tinder Mobile App

Posted on January 20, 2015

Tinder logo with backgroundINVESTING – Jan 18 – Topeka Capital analyst Victor Anthony maintained a Buy rating on IAC with a price target of $87 on January 16th citing the ad potential on Tinder that could lead to increased monetization. Anthony sees “more opportunity overtime with the paid user transactions model,” he believes “advertising could be meaningfully incremental if done correctly.”

by Uri Gruenbaum
See full article at Investing

See all posts on Tinder

Summarized by Courtland Brooks Internet Dating Marketing Consulting

Ashley Madison Lawsuit Dismissed

Posted on January 20, 2015

Ashleymadison logo new apr 2010CTV NEWS – Jan 18 – The legal battle between the Canadian dating site and a former employee who claimed she was injured typing up fake profiles of women has come to an end. The parties agreed to the move after the court threatened to dismiss the suits with costs, noting the cases still hadn't been placed on a trial list more than two years after the initial lawsuit was filed.

by Paola Loriggio
See full article at CTV News

See all posts on AshleyMadison

Summarized by Courtland Brooks Internet Dating Marketing Consulting

Gillette Pays Tinder For Catchy Research, Not Advertising

Posted on January 20, 2015

Tinder gilletteAD AGE – Jan 16 – Gillette paid the popular dating app to test the theory that unkempt facial hair, from stubble to full beards, wasn't as desirable on Tinder as a clean-shaven or well-groomed face. The Procter & Gamble razor brand, working with Publicis shop MRY, is now promoting the results on a website at Shavetest.com. The campaign also offers a glimpse into Tinder's evolving revenue-generating strategy.

by Alexandra Bruell
See full article at Advertising Age

See all posts on Tinder

Summarized by Courtland Brooks Internet Dating Marketing Consulting

2-In-5 Single Australians Have ‘Friends With Benefits’

Posted on January 20, 2015

Rsvp logo new november 2011HERALD SUN – Jan 17 – The survey by dating site RSVP found women were 3% more likely than men to take up a “special friend”. 50% of those aged 18 to 29 had a mutually beneficial relationship with a friend. People aged 30 to 39 were most likely to have a friendship with benefits (58%). 1 in 5 singles older than 60 had a sexual relationship with a friend. More than 1/3 of people aged 40 to 59 admitted to such a relationship.

by Chanel Kinniburgh
See full article at Herald Sun

See all posts on RSVP

Summarized by Courtland Brooks Internet Dating Marketing Consulting