BUMBLE – Bumble has named three new executives as part of its 2025 strategy. Vivek Sagi joins as Chief Technology Officer, bringing global experience in product and engineering. Julie Radford becomes Chief Communications & Corporate Affairs Officer, with a background in public and private sector leadership. Deirdre Runnette is the new Chief Legal Officer, with over 25 years' experience in legal and compliance.
Month: May 2025
Grindr Launches ED Drug Service for Users
FAST COMPANY – Grindr has launched Woodwork, a telehealth service offering erectile dysfunction meds to users in Illinois and Pennsylvania, with plans to expand nationwide by the end of 2025. Partnering with OpenLoop, the service provides mouth-dissolving versions of Cialis and Viagra, prescribed by clinicians trained in LGBTQ-inclusive care. Internal data showed over a third of Grindr users already use ED meds. The move marks Grindr’s entry into telemedicine as it broadens its platform beyond dating.
40% of Married Indians Admit to ‘Digital Affairs’, Gleeden Finds
DECCAN CHRONICLE – According to new research by Gleeden, 40% of married Indians engage in “digital affairs”. While 65% view these as “harmless fun,” 72% of participants said they had no plans to leave their marriage. Men aged 30 – 45 and women aged 25 – 40 were the most active. Nearly half of users admitted to texting a digital partner daily, and 56% of women said they felt more “heard” online than in real life. Emotional neglect, boredom, and a lack of intimacy drive this behavior. Despite their own actions, 68% said they’d feel betrayed if their partner did the same.
Inside the Grindr CEO’s ‘Hardcore’ Vision for the LGBTQ Dating App’s Future
FAST COMPANY – Grindr CEO George Arison outlines an ambitious vision to grow the LGBTQ+ platform beyond hookups, introducing AI-powered features like the “A-List” chat summary tool and launching telemedicine services, including ED treatments through Woodwork. Under Arison’s leadership, Grindr reported $345M in revenue in 2024 (up 33%) with over 1M paying users, bucking the trend of stagnation in dating apps. Arison stresses a “hardcore” work ethic, likens his leadership style to Elon Musk’s, and positions Grindr as a digital “gayborhood,” aiming to expand into areas like wellness and travel.
BeeDee Acquires Meet Kinksters, Launches in Apple App Store
LINKEDIN – BeeDee, a sex-positive dating platform, has acquired Meet Kinksters, an app focused on romantic and sexual compatibility. The deal brings BeeDee to the Apple App Store for the first time. Meet Kinksters launched in 2022 and gained attention for its bold branding. BeeDee, co-founded by the creator of BDSMtest.org, launched in 2023 and has grown rapidly. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
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Americans Shift Dating App Locations to Canada Amid Political Frustration
THE STAR – Since Trump's re-election, dating platforms have seen a rise in Americans, especially women, changing their app locations to Canada in search of partners and political alignment. MapleMatch, a dating app created for U.S.-Canada connections, reported 5,500 new users since Nov 2024, with 1K signing up on election day. Matchmakers and coaches confirm increased interest in Canadian cities like Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal, citing political dissatisfaction and a desire for stability. Chapter 2 Dating noted a doubling of U.S. requests to connect with Canadian users since Trump's inauguration.
by Samantha Fink
See full article at The Star
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Tea Aims to Make Online Dating Safer With Real-Time Background Checks
GRIT DAILY – Tea is a dating safety platform founded by Sean Cook, former product lead at Salesforce and Shutterfly, in response to rising concerns about women's safety online. Launched in 2023, Tea provides real-time background checks, image reverse searches, and behavior monitoring to help users vet matches. The app claims ~500K users, and $1.6M in ARR, and includes a group chat feature where women share advice and support anonymously.
IRLY Team Launches SlideIn, an AI-Powered Dating App Without Swipes or Bios
LINKEDIN – Connor Rose, co-founder and CEO of IRLY, has announced the launch of his new dating app, SlideIn. Targeting Gen Z, SlideIn moves away from traditional dating app formats, eliminating bios, swipes, and scripted small talk. Instead, users start with a single question: "What's your type?", and the app's AI pairs them with someone who fits. The launch follows Rose's earlier work on IRLY, a video chat-based dating app founded in 2021, known for interactive features like in-app games and real-time conversations. SlideIn has opened a limited waitlist at slidein.io, with 100 invites rolling out this week.
Davíð Örn on Building Smitten and Ditching the Swipe
FOUNDERS MEETING – In this episode of Founders-Meeting, Davíð Örn, co-founder of Smitten, shares how he went from med school hopeful to building one of the most playful dating apps on the market. He talks pivots, failures, and why Smitten is designed to make dating fun again – with quizzes, personality colors, and prompts that go way beyond swiping. A must-listen for anyone building a product, navigating startup chaos, or just curious about what it takes to stand out in a crowded space.
Match Group Joins Stop Scams UK to Tackle Fraud Alongside Amazon, Meta, and Google
LINKEDIN – Match Group has joined forces with leading UK tech, telecom, and finance companies as part of Stop Scams UK's renewed commitment to tackling fraud. By supporting intelligence-sharing pilots and cross-sector data exchange, Match Group is focused on helping dating platforms detect and prevent scams before they reach users. The goal: stronger consumer protection, better coordination, and safer online experiences across the board.
