Month: June 2024
The Dating App Bindr Is Celebrating 100,000 Registered Users
FOX43 – Bindr, the bisexual dating app, launched in August 2022. CEO and Co-founder, Mary Richardson, says the app was developed after noticing a lack of queer representation on other dating platforms. After receiving funding through the Penn State LaunchBox program, Richardson and her co-founder developed the app, a statewide initiative to spur economic development, job creation, and student career success. Less than two years later, the app has gone worldwide. The app broke its 100,000-user milestone earlier this year and averages ~1K new users daily. The company expects to reach 1M users by next summer. In 2023, Richardson won an award for Women in Technology from the Technology Council of Central Pennsylvania and was nominated for Forbes 30 Under 30.
Young Singles Favor Offline Dating Events
AXIOS – Young singles are increasingly attending in-person events to meet partners, according to a June report by Eventbrite. This trend reflects a shift away from dating apps, with a 42% increase in attendance at dating events from 2022 to 2023. Over 1.5M searches for such events were recorded between May 2023 and April 2024. Gen Z and Millennials, fatigued by swiping, seek authentic connections through social clubs and hobby groups. Safety concerns are prominent, with 41% of Gen Z preferring introductions through mutual friends.
HubPeople Launches 900+ New Dating Sites Amid WLD’s Major Industry Shift
LINKEDIN – HubPeople has had a productive week, launching ~900 new dating sites using their hubpeople.ai platform. Following Venntro Media Group's pivot from the revenue share model for WhiteLabelDating.com, HubPeople partnered with them to transition existing partner brands and domains to their Excite and Affinity platforms. This marks a significant shift as WLD moves to a SaaS model, ending the traditional revenue-sharing approach by May 31, 2024.
See the top news on HubPeople
See the top news on WhiteLabelDating.com
Hinge Report: “Slowmance” Trends in LGBTQIA+ Dating
BODY & SOUL – Hinge has released its latest D.A.T.E. (Data, Advice, Trends, and Expertise) report, focusing on LGBTQIA+ dating trends. Surveying 14K members, the report reveals a shift towards "slowmance," prioritizing emotional intimacy over fast-paced romance. Key findings include:
- Soft Start: LGBTQIA+ daters prefer humor and light conversation initially, with 80% favoring this approach over deep personal questions.
- Low-Pressure Dates: Casual outings like coffee dates are preferred.
- Soft Launch: Introducing new relationships gradually to friends and family is favored, with 77% supporting open conversations before going public.
Online Personals Watch Turns 20 Today!
OPW – Exactly 20 years ago, on June 9th, 2004, Online Personals Watch embarked on a journey to redefine how industry professionals stay informed about the ever-evolving world of online dating. Founded by Mark Brooks, a luminary in the online dating industry, our platform has been the go-to source for C-level executives, media professionals, and venture capitalists seeking the latest news and insights. I (Irena Brooks) became editor in 2006. Not only do we offer curated daily news summaries, CEO interviews, and leadership conferences, but we also provide a comprehensive news archive dating back to 2004. Additionally, OPW offers tailored company-specific news searches and financial analysis one-pagers. In celebration of this milestone, we're hosting a special LTR online conference on June 12th (see www.LTR.us). Join us for an exclusive event featuring esteemed speakers: Dan Ariely, author and professor of psychology and behavioral economics at Duke University, and bestselling author; Jim Safka, former CEO of Match.com; and Daniel Salmon, partner and head of U.S. Internet at New Street Research.
Let's celebrate 20 years of informing and empowering professionals in this fascinating industry! We will also have Wall Street Journal and New York Times reporters attending, I should note. Email mark@courtlandbrooks.com if you would like to join this (free) online leadership gathering. – Irena Brooks, Editor, OPW
Internet Dating Jobs Listing Update – June 2024
OPW – The new Internet dating jobs listing is live on the Internet Dating Jobs blog.
Below see a couple of this month's most interesting offers:
ParshipMeet Group
Senior Controller
The Meet Group
Director of Technical Operations
Together Light
Entrepreneurial Exec in Int'l BPO/Tech/Business
Betterhalf
Director of Sales
Grindr
Senior Director, Corporate Communications
Hinge
Director, AI Platform
Social Discovery Group
Chief Growth Officer
Tinder
Sr. Director, Product Design
To see more open positions go here.
Do you have an idating industry job offer which is not included? Please, send it to tips@onlinepersonalswatch.com and we will add it to the list.
Everything That Went Wrong With Bumble’s Rebrand
MARKETING BREW – Bumble's rebrand campaign faced significant backlash, culminating in an apology and the removal of controversial ads. Even before the ad debacle, users expressed disappointment with the rebrand, criticizing it as superficial and failing to address underlying issues. Across the board, Bumble's rebrand messaging seemed to either confuse or enrage viewers, starting with what it called a "rebrand" but was essentially a slightly changed look and a new option for men to message first in opposite-sex matches, marking a departure from the app’s signature feature since it first debuted in 2014.
Dating Services as a Future Company Perk?
Jay Shetty Is Now Match’s Relationship Advisor
PR NEWSWIRE – Jay Shetty, a global bestselling author, award-winning podcast host of On Purpose, and purpose-driven entrepreneur, has joined as Match's Relationship Advisor. Match has integrated Jay's expertise across various product touchpoints, where he will offer guidance on first dates, love, and relationships.