JTA.ORG – Loop is a new dating app where users, including non-singles, set up matches within their personal networks. Inspired by Jewish matchmaking traditions, it has gained popularity especially within the Jewish community since its launch in May 2023. The app has grown to 13K users and has had ~2,100 set-ups, most of which have been in the New York area.
by Julia Gerley
See full article at JTA.org
PRESS RELEASE – Cleveland-based dating app, Datefit, which emphasizes fitness, has successfully secured $9M in funding for its annual marketing efforts. This significant investment aims to facilitate Datefit's market growth and presence. The company, founded by Cleveland entrepreneur Steven Macecevic, has faced challenges scaling its marketing efforts due to delays in sales revenue from Apple/iTunes payouts. However, the new funding will help Datefit overcome these hurdles. In 2022, the app welcomed ~300K new users, and it aims to double this number in 2023. With this newfound funding, Datefit hopes to continue its growth trajectory in the fitness-dating app space.
This post also appears on InternetDatingInvestments.com
WEBWIRE – A new report by Marketdata LLC titled "The International Matchmaking Market: Finding Love, For A Price" reveals the resilience and expected growth of the global matchmaking market despite the challenges of the pandemic. Estimated to be worth $1.2 to $1.5B globally, the industry experienced a sharp decline of 25% in 2020 but has since rebounded. Notably, 73% of matchmakers switched to virtual client meetings during the pandemic. The report also projects an average annual growth of 3.8% in global matchmaking market revenues from 2023 to 2027. The industry has adapted to a mix of in-person and virtual services, with more matchmakers entering the profession and offering dating coaching among other services. The largest markets for matchmaking services are in the USA, China, Japan, and South Korea.
WALL STREET JOURNAL – Digital-health platform Noom has appointed veteran tech executive Geoff Cook as its new CEO, replacing co-founder Saeju Jeong, who will transition to executive chairman. Cook was previously the co-founder and CEO of The Meet Group, a company operating online dating and social media apps. Founded in 2008, Noom is known for its online coaching and health plans for weight management and chronic conditions.
THE AMERICAN REPORTER – Marshmallo is a new dating app that prioritizes user safety and security. Users' identities are verified using a program called Persona to prevent catfishing. Furthermore, the app requires users to provide a government-issued photo ID and a selfie for verification. This process is similar to the verification processes used by banks. Additionally, Marshmallo analyzes ~700K names across ~300 databases to ensure users are not sex offenders or criminals. Messaging is also controlled, with users only allowed to send a message once unless it is reciprocated. To further protect user privacy, only first initials are shared until a match is confirmed.
SCHWEIZER ILLUSTRIERTE – 23-year-old Laura Matter quit her job in 2022 to start a dating platform named noii.ch, which organizes speed dating events via video chats and offline real-world events. The platform, which has 12,000 registered users, provides a venue for genuine interaction amongst singles. While the startup is currently operating at a loss, Matter is confident in their business plan, and so far, her platform has successfully matched over 60 couples.
by Olivia Sidoti & Michelle Faverio
See full article at Pew Research
BREAKIT.SE – Swedish startup Djungo, designed to combat loneliness with curated groups in an AI-moderated app, plans to launch in Sweden following success in Brazil. The company raised 15M SEK (~$1.6M) for the Swedish launch after attracting ~100K users in São Paulo. Founder Jakob Lundström believes "social discovery" apps like Djungo will gain more popularity than traditional dating apps, offering a solution for different demographics, from Gen Z to seniors.
by Emil Widhagen
See full article at Breakit.se
This post also appears on InternetDatingInvestments.com
OPW – Parship, a leading dating app in Germany and Europe, has launched a new campaign encouraging singles to trust their instincts when dating, rather than adhering to conventional dating advice. The campaign, named "Wenn's passt", is an extension of the "Healthy Dating" movement initiated in late 2021. The campaign's key message is that when two people are a good match, advice and norms become irrelevant, as long as the dating process remains respectful, sincere, and relaxed. The campaign will be on TV from July 15, 2023, and online from July 18, 2023. The campaign will later be rolled out across the DACH region (Germany, Austria, and Switzerland), the Netherlands, and Belgium.
VPNMENTOR – Cybersecurity researcher at vpnMentor, Jeremiah Fowler, discovered a non-password-protected database containing ~2.3M records related to various dating apps, the most prominent being the "419 Dating – Chat & Flirt" app. The data breach included customer names, account numbers, emails, passwords, and images. The compromised data, if misused, could lead to spam, phishing attacks, or other malware infections. 419 Dating – Chat & Flirt is a casual dating app developed by a Chinese company called Siling App.
