Month: August 2025

CEO George Arison on Grindr’s Bold Shift to Becoming AI-Native

Posted on August 31, 2025
Close-up of a smartphone displaying the Grindr logo on a dark background.

FAST COMPANY – Grindr is positioning itself as an “AI-native” company under CEO George Arison, aiming to embed intelligence across its product and operations rather than treat AI as an add-on. Its new gAI (“Gay I”) initiative includes custom tools built for the LGBTQ+ community, filling gaps mainstream models can’t address. Early features include A-List, which summarizes and categorizes past chats; Discover, which recommends profiles worldwide instead of just nearby; and Insights, which reveals likely match dynamics not listed on profiles. The rollout is limited so far, but Grindr is betting that AI tailored to its audience will give it a lasting competitive edge.

See full article at Fast Company

Malaysian Court Enforces $4M Judgment Against SugarBook Over SeekingArrangement Trademark Dispute

Posted on August 27, 2025
Logo of Sugarbook, a dating platform, featuring the tagline 'Where Romance Meets Finance'.


LEXOLOGY – SeekingArrangement, a US dating platform, and its Singapore affiliate won a $4M trademark case against Malaysia’s SugarBook in a US court. Since SugarBook is based in Malaysia, the plaintiffs asked the Malaysian High Court to enforce the US ruling. The court agreed, finding that SugarBook’s sites were clearly doing business in the US by targeting American users, taking payments in dollars, hosting servers there, and featuring US content. The decision shows that online companies can be treated as present abroad and face foreign judgments even without a physical office.

See full article at Lexology

Curated by the Courtland Brooks team

Global Dating App Revenues Hit $6B in 2024, Set to Reach $8.9B by 2030

Posted on August 27, 2025

Dating app revenue forecastBUSINESS OF APPS – The global dating app market generated ~$6B in 2024, according to the Dating App Report 2025 by Business of Apps. North America drove half of all revenues, with Europe contributing 23%. Tinder remained the top earner, accounting for 30% of global revenue, while Hinge brought in $550M, up 38% YOY. Although downloads have declined since 2019, revenue growth continues, fueled by higher subscription prices and new payment models. The market is projected to reach $8.9B by 2030 at a 6.2% annual growth rate.

See full article at Business of Apps

Curated by the Courtland Brooks team

Podcast With Whitney Wolfe Herd, Adam Cohen-Aslatei, and Steven Cole on Why Modern Dating Feels Broken

Posted on August 25, 2025

BumbleWBUR – On this episode of WBUR's On Point, host Amory Sivertson speaks with Whitney Wolfe Herd, CEO of Bumble; Adam Cohen-Aslatei, CEO of matchmaking company Three Day Rule; and Steven Cole, founder of Lunge, a dating app that connects people through fitness communities like gyms and run clubs. Whitney acknowledged that dating apps have left many people feeling exhausted. She said swiping has distorted human interaction by offering too much choice without enough context, reducing people to quick judgments. Returning to Bumble after stepping away, she wants to overhaul the app to emphasize safety, compatibility, and more complete profiles, moving away from gamification and shallow engagement. Adam Cohen-Aslatei said dating apps encourage treating people like objects, with quick photo-based judgments. At Three Day Rule, he focuses on matching through shared values and long-term compatibility, using feedback from dates to improve results. He argued dating is a skill people aren't taught, which makes the process harder. Steven Cole of Lunge noted that men often need 1,500 likes for one date on apps, and said in-person meetups like run clubs create more authentic connections.

See full article at WBUR

Curated by the Courtland Brooks team

Grindr Bets on AI and New Ventures

Posted on August 25, 2025
Close-up of a finger hovering over the Grindr app icon on a smartphone screen.

SHERWOOD – Grindr CEO George Arison is pushing the app beyond dating by adding AI features and side businesses. New tools include Wingman, which recommends matches users wouldn’t normally see, a revamped Discover tab to explore people outside one’s area, and Insights, which highlights details about profiles that aren’t immediately obvious. All will be opt-in and bundled into a new, higher-priced subscription tier by 2026. At the same time, Grindr launched Woodwork, a telehealth service starting with ED medication, with plans to expand into wellness, travel, and local discovery. About 20% of Grindr’s code is already AI-written, and Arison is running these projects like lean startups. Despite ups and downs on Wall Street, Grindr’s stock has risen ~30% in the past year, far ahead of Match and Bumble.

See full article at Sherwood

Curated by the Courtland Brooks team

MillionaireMatch Cracks Down on AI-Generated Photos

Posted on August 25, 2025

MillionaireMatch logo 2025PRESS RELEASE – MillionaireMatch has banned AI-generated profile photos and introduced a reporting feature for suspected fakes. The platform now requires strict verification, including live video photo checks and financial proof of at least $300K in annual income or $1M in assets, with verified members receiving badges to confirm authenticity.

See full article at Ein Presswire

Curated by the Courtland Brooks team

Hinge CEO Justin McLeod on AI, Loneliness, and the Push for Real-Life Connections

Posted on August 25, 2025

HingeFAST COMPANY – Hinge CEO Justin McLeod says the app facilitates millions of in-person dates each month and is focused on reducing digital fatigue among young people, who are spending less time together and reporting higher rates of loneliness. The company's partnership with Esther Perel introduced "Your World" prompts to help users spark conversations that lead offline. Looking ahead, McLeod sees AI as central to Hinge's evolution, enabling more personalized matching and guidance to help users create stronger profiles. He stresses that Hinge's strategy is not to follow competitors but to rely on user research and experimentation to stay ahead.

See full article at Fast Company

Curated by the Courtland Brooks team

The Full Global Dating Insights Conference Speaker Lineup, London, Sep 17

Posted on August 22, 2025

GDI London conferenceOPW – The London GDI is on September 17th. Are you going? This is where the industry meets to compare notes and catch-up with friends. Join the fray. This is a fascinating and diverse lineup. Tix are here. Here are the speakers.

Keynotes

  • Karima ben Abdelmalek, CEO at happn
  • Carsten Böltz, CEO at Online Personals Group
  • Mark Brooks, CEO/Analyst/Consultant at Courtland Brooks

All Speakers

  • Connor Rose, Founder, IRLY & new app SlideIn – (VIRTUAL)
  • Jamie Johnston, Founder & CEO of Mattr
  • Emma Sayle, CEO & Co-Founder at KK Group – Killing Kittens & WAX App
  • Ankit Nayal, Founder & CEO at Flamme and DatingX.ai
  • Richa Rival, Founder & CEO at Walnut
  • Tegan Broomfield, CEO & Founder of Evntful Dating
  • Hari Gopalakrishnan, Founder of Hearts Dating
  • Aaron Jacobs, Attorney at Prince Lobel Tye LLP
  • Isobel Angell, Senior Associate at Ofcom
  • Kaushik Banerjee, Co-Founder and CEO at Flutrr
  • Anirban Banerjee, CMO & Co-Founder at Flutrr
  • Sunil Hiranandani, Founder at Sirf Coffee
  • Aryavrat Goenka, CEO of UrbanMatch
  • Snehil Khanor, CEO at TrulyMadly – (VIRTUAL)
  • Abhishek Kashyap, CEO at Rekindle – (VIRTUAL)

Also, there's a leader's lunch the day before. Tix are here.

I'll be there. Ping me at mark@courtlandbrooks.com if you'd like to connect prior to the conference.

There Are 2.5 Million on Raya’s Waitlist

Posted on August 22, 2025
Close-up of a hand holding a smartphone displaying the Raya dating app logo, with a blurred financial chart in the background.

WALL STREET JOURNAL – Raya, the invite-only dating app launched in 2015, is known for its exclusivity: it has a 2.5M–person waitlist, accepts only a small percentage of applicants, and has a user base in the low six figures. Membership costs $24.99 a month, with one-fifth paying $49.99 for the premium Raya+ tier. The company says revenue has grown 50% annually for five years and it became profitable in 2021. About 40% of users are Gen Z, making it the app’s fastest-growing group. Raya enforces strict privacy rules, appeals to celebrities and creatives, and relies heavily on referrals from existing members. Despite talk of networking, 85-90% of activity is dating. Founder Daniel Gendelman has also launched Places, a $39.99-per-year travel and dining guide with over 83K listings, as part of Raya’s expansion beyond dating.

See full article at Wall Street Journal

 

Tinder Promotes New Double Date Feature With Ibiza Reality-Style Campaign

Posted on August 22, 2025
Graphic promoting Tinder's Double Date Island, featuring the text 'double date island' in pink with a palm tree icon and a map outline of an island.

TINDER PRESS ROOM – Tinder has launched Double Date Island, a social content campaign across the UK, France, Italy, Spain, and Germany to promote its new Double Date feature. Set in Ibiza, eight creators and their best friends will go on double dates, with content shared on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and BeReal. The feature, introduced globally in July 2025, lets friends match as pairs and has seen strong uptake, with 90% of users under 30. The campaign highlights Gen Z’s shift toward collaborative, low-pressure, and social-first dating.

See full article at Tinder Press Room