BUSINESS INSIDER – Apr 12 – Daniel Ahmadizadeh launched a new quarantine-inspired dating app – Quarantine Together. Since it was created in March, it's grown to 7K users with 20% increase in new users every day. Ahmadizadeh has also launched two new initiatives – one to help sales people affected by layoffs connect to companies that are hiring contractors, and another free suite of tools to help small businesses grow. Quarantine Together rewards people for behaviors that help "flatten the curve" (for example, washing hands and staying at home) by pairing them up with a new match each day at 6 p.m. Ahmadizadeh and his friend built an initial prototype that required no coding – using no-code tools like Zapier, Twilio, Airtable, Typeform, and Webflow – and launched the site with their own funding.
Month: April 2020
The Top Internet Dating Reporters in 2019, According to Online Personals Watch
OPW – Apr 12 – Each year we take a look at which reporters have received the most coverage on Online Personals Watch. Here's our rankings for 2019.
- Sarah Perez, Tech Crunch
- Ashley Carman, The Verge
- Zack Whittaker, Tech Crunch
- Natasha Lomas, Tech Crunch
- Sam Dean, Los Angeles Times
- Lucas Matney, Tech Crunch
- Jordan Crook, Tech Crunch
- Anthony Ha, Tech Crunch
- Emily Bary, Marketwatch
- Kuwar Singh, Quartz India
Blindlee Is a New Video Dating App
MARIE CLAIRE – Apr 10 – On dating app Blindlee, users are randomly paired up with someone who matches their criteria before being put into a three minute video call with them. However, it will be blurred – so they won't get to see very much of their potential other half. Instead, they'll have to see if they get on before their face is revealed. The woman can control the blur so that she can reveal herself bit by bit if she wants.
Lessons Learned From Starting Zoosk During the 2008 Recession
ENTREPRENEUR – APR 10 – Shayan Zadeh and Alex Mehr co-founded the online dating company Zoosk during the 2008 recession. They were running it for 10 years before selling it for ~$300M. They now lead an online retailer Dressbarn with their business partner, Tai Lopez, and invest in or advise other ventures.
Q: What are you more skilled at than most people in the world?
Shayan Zadeh: Starting Zoosk during the 2008 economic collapse taught us many lessons for the current COVID-19 crisis. Most people are shell-shocked during a crisis and don't take action. We utilize data to make quick decisions and optimize businesses. With this mentality, you can quickly spot opportunities, test ideas, experiment and pivot while keeping a lean team.
Q: What was your biggest, most painful failure?
Alex Mehr: We started Zoosk as a market research tool. We struggled to gain traction until we stumbled upon the idea of doing online dating differently. So we pivoted, but it wasn't easy. Remove your ego, acknowledge your mistakes and identify a solution.
Q: What's the biggest common leadership mistake?
Shayan Zadeh: Overplanning. Very few people predicted the ramification of COVID-19. It's easy to get analysis paralysis, especially now. Get out of overthinking, make a move, get feedback and adjust as needed.
Q: How do you prevent burnout?
Shayan Zadeh: A solid support network is critical. Carve out time for yourself and your family.
Q: What are you working on right now?
Alex Mehr: Laying the foundation for Dressbarn's growth. We're also focused on our team. We have three offices across the country and contractors overseas. Decentralization with virtual working has its challenges, but it's working and becoming the standard out of necessity due to current events.
Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Online Daters Report Positive Experiences
PEW RESEARCH – Apr 10 – Lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) adults in the US are avid users of online dating sites and apps, according to a recent Pew Research Center survey. LGB online daters generally report that their experiences with online dating have been positive. At the same time, they are more likely than their straight counterparts to experience a range of negative behaviors on dating platforms. More than half of LGB online daters (56%) say they have received a sexually explicit message or image they did not ask for, compared with 32% of straight online daters who say the same. 41% say someone has called them an offensive name on one of these sites or apps. About two-thirds (65%) of LGB online daters say their experience was very or somewhat positive. By contrast, 56% of straight online daters say their personal experiences were positive overall.
Swivel Is a New Video Speed-Dating Site
ELITE DAILY – Apr 10 – Swivel, a new video speed-dating site was created in response to the coronavirus outbreak. To start, Swivel asks new users to create a quick, verified profile. Then the matching algorithm takes their location, age, and gender preferences into account and shows only people who fit their criteria. Rather than swiping right, users request a call. If both users request a call, they will get the opportunity to have a one-minute speed-dating session.
Match Is Giving the Dinner Bell Foundation $30k to Feed COVID-19 First Responders
DALLAS INNOVATES – Apr 8 – Match.com is making a $30k donation in total to the Dinner Bell Foundation, a nonprofit created by the barbecue connoisseurs at Pecan Lodge. Match is starting with a $15k donation, and for every additional dollar given, will match it up to $15k. That equates to ~5,000 free meals. The Dinner Bell Foundation will use the funds to connect restaurants with healthcare workers and first responders.
Vegan Dating App Offers Vegan Restaurant Finder
PR NEWSWIRE – Apr 9 – The Vegandr vegan dating app now offers a restaurant finder option. Users can now share local vegan restaurants for a quick meetup. The app appeals to vegans of all ages and relationship-seekers, whether casual dating, long-term dating, or just a general friend finder.
Online Daters Face Increased Fraud Risk With COVID-19 Traffic
FORBES – Apr 9 – According to RealMe survey, 61% of Generation Z members and 52% of millennials were already tricked by someone else's online profile. Meanwhile, 12% of Gen Z daters admit they developed a fake profile on social media, and 16% of that same generation used photos of other people on the dating site profiles they established. Only 2% of baby boomers admitted to developing a fake personality online, and 5% of that older generation said they used someone else's pictures on a dating profile. Almost 69% of Gen Z and 61% of millennials made it clear they created false or distorted information on their other social media accounts outside of online dating. Only 44% of Generation X and 19% of Baby Boomers confessed to the same.
LGBTQ Dating App TAIMI Launches New Campaign
ATTITUDE.CO.UK – Apr 9 – TAIMI, the world's first LGBTQI+ social networking platform provides a safe, inclusive space for everyone, regardless of their sexuality or gender identity. Adopting the slogan "TAIMI – Coming-Out-Free Community," the series of videos imagines what would happen if a person had an object for every time they'd been outed, or had to come out to somebody.