Month: May 2024
OPW Song – Old-fashioned Love
This week there was a news item by the New York Post about matchmakers doing well despite a downturn in online dating, especially with younger audiences. See the news summary here. This is a rap song about this news.
Dating App Breeze Is Launching in London
LINKEDIN – Breeze, the dating app that focuses on real-life meetings, has expanded to London. The app encourages users to skip the endless swiping and chatting by arranging first dates at partnered bars, aiming to create more meaningful connections.
Study Reveals Women Detect Threats in Online Dating Profiles Through Facial Features and Biographical Cues
PSYPOST – A study in Computers in Human Behavior found that women are less likely to show interest in online dating profiles with facial features suggesting aggression (like a pronounced jawline or narrow eyes) and biographical details indicating traits such as narcissism, impulsiveness, or hostility towards women. These biographical details included language that dehumanizes or objectifies women. Typical online dating safety tips did not help women better detect these threats, highlighting the need for improved safety measures on dating platforms.
Why Nobody Likes Dating Now
AMERICAN SURVEY CENTER – Bumble's Whitney Wolfe Herd explained "There is a world where your dating concierge could go and date for you with other dating concierge[s] . . . and then you don't have to talk to 600 people," she said. It sounds utterly dystopian. AI chatbots chatting up other bots to forge connections for their human counterparts. Singles are pessimistic about dating life. Dating apps are accused of being part of the problem. There's a rising distrust between men and women: less patience and more risk aversion. Young women today expect young men to contribute in ways their fathers never did. Marriage is less of an immediate goal for many young people, and parenthood is more of an open question. A recent Pew poll found that young men are more interested in becoming parents than young women. A growing share of single young singles are deciding that romantic relationships or marriage might simply not be worth it.
by Daniel A. Cox
See full article at American Survey Center
Mark Brooks: The only way AI concierges would really work is if they were given inordinate access to users' other apps, comms, and behavioral data, to properly assess their character. Then, it could get quite interesting. Bumble, as a trusted brand, could be one of the few dating companies that could be granted enough access to be able to make this kind of feature fly. I don't buy that people really don't want romantic relationships. Homo sapiens need intimacy, love. I think we/they/he/she… are just less well-equipped and more distracted.
Keeper Seeks $5M Seed Investment to Scale Matchmaking Automation
OPW – Keeper, an online matchmaking company, is seeking seed investors to raise $5M to scale its high-accuracy matchmaking automation. In recent months, Keeper has grown its user base by 4,500%, reaching approximately 1.2M signups, with a notable 1 in 5 first dates leading to marriage engagements. Keeper combines AI, expert matchmakers, and relationship psychology to help individuals find serious, long-term relationships. Previously, Keeper closed a $1.3M pre-seed round led by Champion Hill Ventures. For more information, contact Keeper's founder and CEO Jake Kozloski at jake@keeper.ai.
This post also appears on InternetDatingInvestments.com
New Zealand’s HUD Studio Named Finalist in Culture 100 Awards
LINKEDIN – HUD Studio, the parent company of HUD App, has been named a finalist in the Culture 100 Awards. This recognition highlights New Zealand's top companies to work for, focusing on those that create people-centric workplaces. HUD App is a dating and hookup app designed to facilitate casual encounters and relationships.
Match Group Joins Coalition to Combat Online Fraud
PR NEWSWIRE – Tech companies, including Coinbase, Match Group, Meta, and Ripple, have formed the Tech Against Scams coalition to combat online fraud. This coalition will share best practices, threat intelligence, and educate consumers to prevent scams like "pig butchering." The initiative aims to disrupt scam networks through collaboration and support law enforcement investigations globally.
UAE Matchmaking Company to Launch Seed Round to Raise $1.2-$1.5M
MYSTARTUPWORLD – Maxion, UAE's first matchmaking app, announced 93% month-on-month growth just 12 weeks after launch. In March 2024, Maxion raised $600K in pre-seed funding with a $5M valuation cap. With over 1600 applicants on the waitlist and adding 100 weekly, Maxion is launching a seed round to raise $1.2-$1.5M to support growth. Funds will secure market share in UAE, expand to two additional GCC markets, create an Indian connections portal, and localize for Muslim marriages. Founded by Christiana Maxion, the app focuses on compatibility and meaningful connections, offering a personal matchmaking concierge.
See full article at MyStartupWorld
This post also appears on InternetDatingInvestments.com
Grindr’s Chief Privacy Officer on the Dating App’s Data Controversies
