INC42 – Social media startup Hood, known for its anonymous networking app and a $3.2M funding round backed by top investors, has rebranded itself for the second time – now as Knot.dating. The company gained fame on Shark Tank India Season 2. Knot.dating is an invite-only, AI-powered matrimonial platform targeting India’s top 1% earners from elite institutions like IITs, IIMs, and MIT. It promises human matchmakers, private profiles, and a focus on serious relationships among working professionals.
Month: March 2025
Dating Is Even More Partisan in the Trump Era
FAST COMPANY – With Donald Trump back in office, politically charged platforms are booming – Bluesky spiked in November, Signal is trending again, and niche dating apps are racking up new users. As Americans increasingly avoid dating across party lines (71% of Democrats said they wouldn't date a Trump voter), app developers are leaning into politics. On the right, Date Right Stuff, co-founded by former Trump staffer John McEntee and backed by $1.5B from Peter Thiel, is gaining momentum after a rocky start. On the left, progressive apps have struggled to scale, often rooted more in resistance than strong demand.
Hinge CEO’s Daily Habit for Mental Resilience
CNBC – Hinge CEO Justin McLeod swears by a simple daily habit: writing a gratitude list. Whenever he feels down or stressed, listing 10 things he’s grateful for instantly shifts his mindset. He says this practice helps him stay grounded, productive, and mentally sharp. Backed by research, journaling – whether for gratitude or reflecting on painful experiences – can boost problem-solving, emotional resilience, and long-term growth.
iOS Dating Apps Leak Sensitive Photos and Messages
FORBES – Cybernews found that five iOS dating apps by M.A.D Mobile Apps Developers Limited – BDSM People, Brish, Chica, Pink, and Translate – leaked ~1.5M user photos due to exposed API keys and unsecured cloud storage. The breach affected private chat images, profile pics, and moderated content.
Hinge Launches $1M Fund to Support In-Person Events for Gen Z
NBC PHILADELPHIA – Gen Z is struggling with loneliness and burnout from digital dating, so apps like Hinge, Bumble, and Grindr are pivoting to in-person events to help young people reconnect. Hinge just launched a $1M fund to support 100+ local community events in London, part of its global "One More Hour" initiative aimed at encouraging real-world socializing.
FROM Gets Real
MARK BROOKS – I paid a visit to First Round's On Me for the soft launch of their meet space in New York which is at 109 W.25th St.
Announcing LTR Edition 41 With Mark Brooks (Founder & CEO of IDEA) and Bruno Adami (CEO of Umatch)
OPW – Edition 41 of the LTR (Love, Tech, Relationships) online experience will be on Wednesday, April 2, at 12 pm EST (New York time).
In this edition, Mark Brooks will present the State of the Dating Industry, providing a look at the state of the industry in 2024-2025 along with the biggest challenges and opportunities. Then, we welcome Bruno Adami, Co-Founder & CEO of Umatch, a Brazilian startup redefining the way college students connect. Bruno will share his journey in building Umatch, the unique challenges of catering to a college audience, and how the platform differentiates itself in the crowded online dating space.
If you hold a full-time leadership role at an Internet dating company, you are welcome to join IDEA and LTR events for free.
Why attend LTR?
💰 Free: No registration fees – your budget is no barrier.
🏠 Flexible: Attend from anywhere – no travel required.
⏰ Convenient: Access live. 90 minutes only.
See the LTR Edition 41 speakers and invite page here
Email mark@courtlandbrooks.com to RSVP.
This LTR is kindly sponsored by Dating Through Curiosity.
Top Dating Apps by Press Coverage in 2024
OPW – In 2024, we selected and summarized close to 700 of the top news items from the online dating industry. These 10 companies made the most headlines in 2024, driven by leadership changes, product launches, lawsuits, and bold strategic moves:
- Match Group – Topped coverage as Elliott bought a $1B stake, partnered with OpenAI, launched a buyback, and reshuffled leadership.
- Tinder – Named Faye Iosotaluno as CEO, expanded ID verification globally and launched a celeb-only dating app
- Bumble – Cut 350 jobs, launched AI scam detection, bought Geneva, and rethought "women make the first move."
- Hinge – Rolled out chat limits, Hidden Words, and launched a $1M fund to drive in-person Gen Z connections.
- Grindr – Marked 15 years, expanded into long-term dating, saw 85% stock growth, and faced HIV data lawsuits.
- Archer – Surpassed 1M downloads, added selfie verification and AI moderation.
- Feeld – Nearly doubled revenue to £39.5M, rebranded, and launched a magazine on non-traditional relationships.
- Matrimony – Launched MeraLuv and WeddingLoan.com, but faced a major setback as Google removed its apps.
- Muzz – Reached 10M users, debuted Muzz Social, launched matchmaking in Pakistan, and introduced chat limits.
- OkCupid – Turned 20 years old.
Katie Dissanayake on Building After: Lessons From Launching a Purpose-Driven Dating App
AUTHORITY MAGAZINE – Katie Dissanayake is the founder and CEO of After, a woman-led dating app designed to slow down swipe culture and promote more intentional, meaningful connections. With over a decade in the dating industry, she launched After to challenge the status quo and humanize the digital dating experience. Katie shares hard-won lessons from her startup journey, including that no one is coming to save you – success is on the founder; launch before you feel ready; rejection isn't personal; you’ll want to quit but shouldn't; and small wins deserve celebration.
Wolfe Herd Returns to Reinvent Bumble as ‘Love Company’
FORTUNE – Whitney Wolfe Herd is back as CEO of Bumble after 14 months away, following a 90% stock drop, user backlash, and leadership missteps. She admits burnout and an "ego death" during her break and now wants to transform Bumble from a dating app into a "Love Company" focused on self-worth, joy, and personal growth. Her new vision? Shift from "women make the first move" to "make the first move for yourself." She plans to add self-help features, like a Duolingo-style coaching tool, and overhaul the app's rejection-heavy dynamics. She's candid about men's struggles on the app and wants Bumble to serve both genders better. Wolfe Herd says she no longer chases external validation or stock price. She's rebranding Bumble around purpose, not pressure – and says the misery in modern dating (and leadership) stops now.