OPW – Feb 18 – The LTR.us conference is completely full now. See details and RSVP list. However, you can still join us for the public follow-on discussion on Clubhouse "LTR Monthly" from 2pm to 3pm EST. Then I recommend joining the Co-Founders of The Meet Group, Geoff and Catherine's, "This Week in Dating Apps" on Clubhouse 3pm-4pm EST.
Month: February 2021
Match Group Sues Muzmatch
BLOOMBERG LAW – Feb 16 – Match Group accused U.K.-based Muzmatch of copying Tinder to create a similar digital matchmaking service for Muslims. Match Group called Muzmatch a "Tinder clone" in a patent-infringement suit filed Feb. 12 in federal court in Waco, Texas. Muzmatch copied Tinder's "world changing, draggable-card-based, mutual opt-in app interface" in a dating app dedicated solely to one cultural group, Match claims in the complaint. Both apps offer users digital stacks of cards containing photos of potential romantic matches in close geographic proximity, which the user can accept or discard by swiping.
Tinder Patents Swipe Night
GRATISDATINGTIPS – Feb 16 – Tinder's Swipe Night, an interactive adventure that connects users based on the choices they make, turned out to be a great success. So Match Group filed for the protection of the "Swipe Night" method last August in a patent called "System and method for recommending users based on shared digital experiences". The patent was published by the WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization) on February 11, 2021.
Class Action Lawsuit Claims It’s Just Lunch Defrauded Customers
THE DENVER CHANNEL – Feb 16 – It's Just Lunch sells itself as an elite international matching service that has offices across the country. The company settled one class action lawsuit in 2019 and now faces another. As a part of the lawsuit and settlement agreement, It's Just Lunch agreed to pay ~$5M to impacted clients. The lawsuit called the dating service "a massive scheme to defraud tens of thousands of single professionals throughout the country." In a lengthy statement, the company said, "The new claims in the California lawsuit are brought by two individuals. It is very disappointing and unfortunate that this matter is pending because these allegations are completely without merit. IJL intends to vigorously defend the new suit."
The Rise of Borderless Dating
QUARTZ – Feb 16 – In the early days of the pandemic, Tinder users started teleporting themselves into other countries. The feature, normally available with Tinder's paid subscriptions, was so popular that the company made it free for everyone for a month. Bumble followed suit, giving users the option to set their location filters "nationwide". Location has started mattering less. Nicole Parlapiano, VP of marketing for North America at Tinder, also says that Gen Z has a more relaxed, open approach to dating. "I think the world's getting smaller. What matters is good interaction, good conversation. And you can jump on a plane, you can get in a car," said Geoff Cook, CEO of The Meet Group, which owns streaming app MeetMe. OkCupid said in a blog post that since the start of the pandemic "connections and conversations across borders are up 50%, and people are setting their location preferences to 'anywhere' more than ever before.” ~1.5M users say they are open to a long-distance relationship. Dating coach and industry consultant Steve Dean said his clients have been more willing to widen their geographical perimeter during the pandemic. Eric Resnick, longtime online dating coach and industry consultant, is skeptical. "He wonders, how do you navigate a new online relationship? Are you exclusive, or do you also date locally?" "There's potential for it, but I think it's inherently risky," he said. "Nothing's real until you're in the same room at the same time as someone."
by Hanna Kozlowska
See full article at Quartz
See the top news on Tinder See the top news on The Meet Group
See the top news on Bumble See the top news on OkCupid
New Niche – A Dating App Only for the Vaccinated?
THE STAR – Feb 16 – Samantha Yammine, a scientist who often talks on Twitter about health issues, says she's received messages about "dudes on dating apps claiming they're 'totally safe for close contact' because they have received the vaccine. "Basically, getting the vaccine is the hottest thing you could be doing on a dating app right now," said Michael Kaye, global communications manager for OkCupid. 43% of ~1,500 members of another site, Coffee Meets Bagel, said they were right now more attracted to someone who had been vaccinated. For university student Brittany Biggerstaff, people who say they are vaccinated are not more attractive because of the shot – but it does mean they have put their faith in science. "It gives insight on a potential partner's political views and knowledge about science and medicine," she said. Dawoon Kang, the co-founder of Coffee Meets Bagel, agrees.
See the top news on OkCupid
See the top news on Coffee Meets Bagel
Sugarbook Dating Site Goes Blank in Malaysia
FREE MALAYSIA TODAY – Feb 16 – Controversial dating site Sugarbook has been blocked by Malaysia's Internet regulator, days after creating a controversy over its claims of Malaysian women offering themselves as "sugar babies". Sugarbook had claimed last week that some 12,705 students from 10 institutions of higher learning in the Klang Valley, including two public universities, were currently registered with the platform.
Hinge’s CEO Wants Users to Swipe Less and Love More
FINANCIAL REVIEW – Feb 16 – According to App Annie, Hinge is the fastest-growing dating app in the US, Britain, Canada and Australia. In 2020, full-year revenue was up threefold and total downloads were up 63% in 2019. Hinge launched in 2012, but in 2016, CEO Justin McLeod decided to ditch the old app and start again. "The reboot was one of the hardest, most challenging, gut-wrenching, horrible, things that I did," he says. The overhauled app came back with a new sell to its users: "Hinge, designed to be deleted." The company also began surveying users about whether or not they actually met up with matches, and if the date went well or not.
Dating App Aisle Raises Undisclosed Pre-series A Funding
THE HINDU BUSINESS LINE – Feb 16 – Bengaluru-based dating app Aisle has raised an undisclosed amount in pre-Series A funding from Hurun India Founder and Managing Director Anas Rahman Junaid and seed funding firm Konglo Ventures' founder Vinod Jose. Aisle will use the proceeds to foray into Tier-II markets across the country and expand in other countries with non-residential Indian presence. Aisle connects people of Indian-origin from around the world, who are looking for serious relationships and competes with Tinder and Bumble among others. Aisle had raised a previous funding earlier on February 14, 2017.
See full article at The Hindu Business Line
This post also appears on InternetDatingInvestments.com
Jigsaw Scores $3.7M
TECH CRUNCH – Feb 15 – Jigsaw, an "anti-superficial" dating app, scored £2.7M ($3.7M) in seed funding to put toward U.S. expansion. The round is led by a lead generation company for online dating companies, called The Relationship Corp., with backing from angel investors in the U.S. and U.K. primarily in the tech sector. The app puts a digital jigsaw over the faces of users, with pieces removed gradually the more they interact – and the full face only revealed after a pre-set amount of in-app engagement. The app launched in London in 2019; and opened up to the U.S. in November last year. Jigsaw has ~150K+ registered users across those two markets at this point, with 50K in the U.S.
by Natasha Lomas
See full article at Tech Crunch
This post also appears on InternetDatingInvestments.com