TRADING VIEW – Match Group will announce its Q4 2024 earnings on Feb 4. Analysts expect profits of $0.54 per share, down from $0.81 last year, and revenue between $865M and $875M. This follows Q3 revenue of $895.5M, which slightly missed forecasts. For the full year, profits are projected to drop 14.2% to $1.94 per share but are expected to rebound to $2.13 in 2025. Analysts give the stock a “Moderate Buy” rating with a $36.88 price target, suggesting potential growth ahead.
LTR – Dare Olatoye is the co-founder and CEO of Trueflutter, a matchmaking app for Africans and their diaspora. He shares his fascinating journey building the app with innovative features like audio bios and nationality-based filters, which has attracted ~500K users. Trueflutter stands out for its embrace of African cultural nuances, and Dare shares how it all started with his sister's late-life marriage and a focus on meaningful relationships rather than casual encounters. Despite funding challenges and competition, the app has been a huge success, with 108 marriages in 3 years, surpassing Tinder and Bumble in the African market.
[**See the video here on Youtube**]
The November LTR was kindly sponsored by ParshipMeet Group, RealMe, Dating Through Curiosity, along with Courtland Brooks and Matchmaker.com
OPW – Shn Juay, who spent six years at Paktor, including serving as its CEO, is now the CEO worldwide at Coffee Meets Bagel. With a wealth of experience in the dating industry, she takes on this role to further strengthen the brand's mission of connecting serious daters. During her time at Paktor, she oversaw both online and offline matchmaking platforms. Coffee Meets Bagel, a San Francisco-based dating app launched in 2012, focuses on fostering serious relationships through features like detailed profiles and limited matches. The app gained attention after appearing on Shark Tank in 2015.
See the top news on Coffee Meets Bagel
See the top news on Paktor
CITY AM – Thursday, a London-based start-up founded by George Rawlings, launched its dating app in 2021 with a simple idea: it only works on Thursdays. The app was designed to tackle "dating fatigue" by limiting activity to one day a week, encouraging quicker decisions and real-life meetups. Now, the company is shifting its focus to Thursday Events, where users can buy tickets to weekly events around the world. They’re also planning to expand their trips division, launch in new countries, and introduce a clothing line.
VICE – Starting in February, a new law in New York will require dating apps to notify users if someone has been previously banned. This measure aims to provide added user protection and reduce financial losses linked to scams just in time for Valentine’s Day.
INDIAN TV – Matrimony.com announced the resignation of CFO Sushanth Pai, who served for six years, to pursue other opportunities. Media veteran Rajesh Sawhney has been appointed as an additional independent director. Additionally, the company is launching a new ad campaign in January featuring Anil Kapoor.
FOX5 – A new app is trying out a different approach to the online dating scene. First, users make the reservation and then figure out who they’ll be going out with.
DAILYMAIL.CO.UK – A surge in post-holiday infidelity and relationship breakups has marked January as a peak period for marital tensions, dubbed "Blue Monday for relationships." Illicit Encounters, a dating site for affairs, reported a 33% rise in sign-ups compared to last year, driven by feelings of dissatisfaction and the desire for a fresh start. Meanwhile, "Divorce Day" sees law firms bracing for an influx of cases, with 80% of women expressing regret for not initiating divorce sooner. Key reasons for divorce include growing apart (54%), adultery (30%), and domestic abuse (24%).
RACONTEUR – The CEO of dating app Happn discusses her leadership journey, the importance of trust, and why being a CEO can feel like living 10 lives in one day
1. What was your journey to CEO like?
I transitioned from legal counsel to CEO in 2021 after working on governance and safety at Happn since 2017. The shift felt natural because I was already deeply involved in the company’s strategy.
2. How has your background helped you as a CEO?
My legal expertise supports strategic thinking, risk anticipation, and ensuring compliance with global regulations, all of which are essential for my role.
3. What skills does a good leader need?
Empowering and trusting team members while encouraging them to perform at their best.
4. Best business advice received?
Being authentic helps build trust and stronger relationships within the team.
5. What do you look for in leadership hires?
I value trust, optimism, courage, willingness to take initiative, and the potential to grow with the company.
6. Biggest challenge in the sector?
Fierce competition and differing global dating cultures, with women’s safety being a key priority in emerging markets like India.
7. Impact of the pandemic?
Dating-app fatigue led us to focus on features that prioritize fewer but more tailored profiles to meet user preferences.
8. Most enjoyable part of the job?
Balancing long-term strategy with operational collaboration and inspiring the team to achieve our shared goals.
9. Recommended business book?
No Rules Rules by Netflix CEOs Reed Hastings and Erin Meyer offer valuable insights into reinventing company culture.
10. Hobbies outside work?
Spending time with my two sons, exploring forests, swimming, and visiting flea markets to give old items a second chance.
PEW RESEARCH – The share of U.S. adults living without a romantic partner has declined slightly, from 44% in 2019 to 42% in 2023, with modest increases in married adults (from 50% to 51%) and those cohabiting with a partner (from 6% to 7%). Those with lower education levels are more likely to be unpartnered. The decrease in unpartnered adults is attributed to fewer divorces rather than an increase in new marriages, with the divorce rate hitting a record low of 1.4% in 2023.
