Month: September 2025

Grindr CEO Outlines AI Expansion, User Growth and New Ventures at Goldman Sachs Conference

Posted on September 9, 2025
Close-up of a smartphone displaying the Grindr app logo on a dark background.

INVESTING – At the Goldman Sachs Communicopia + Technology Conference 2025, Grindr CEO George Arison said the company is moving beyond dating into a social network for the gay community, with new AI features like Discover, Insights, and Right Now. He said monthly active users grew 6% in Q2, even after the removal of spam accounts. Grindr expects EBITDA margins of 39–42%. The company plans to launch new premium tiers and increase ad revenue. It will also continue share buybacks. Grindr is expanding into telehealth and luxury services.

See full article at Investing

Chapter 2 Dating Acquires M14 White Label Dating Platform

Posted on September 9, 2025
Logo for Chapter 2 Dating featuring a heart and the text 'Chapter 2' in vibrant colors on a purple background.

MANCHESTER WORLD – Chapter 2 Dating Ltd, founded by Nicky Wake, has acquired the M14 white-label dating and social app platform, which powers its apps Soberlove, Chapter 2 Dating, and Widows Fire. M14 was created by John Kershaw in 2017 and acquired by Steve Pammenter in 2022. Following the sale, Pammenter will focus on growing Gaydar and developing Highlife Media.

See full article at Manchester World

AI-Powered Ailo Promises More Compatible Matches in Miami

Posted on September 8, 2025
Two people seated at a cafe table, showcasing fashion styles, with the text 'AILO' prominently displayed.

CBS NEWS – Ailo, a Miami-based dating app, uses AI to screen profiles and only shows matches with at least 70% compatibility in areas like attraction, values, and lifestyle. Designed to reduce dating-app fatigue, it is expanding to New York and Los Angeles with nationwide rollout planned by year-end. The app is also bilingual.

See full article at CBS News

New Study Shows Why Men Need to Lower Their Standards on Dating Apps

Posted on September 8, 2025
An illustration of a person holding a smartphone surrounded by profile cards showing different individuals, with checkmarks and chat bubbles illustrating communication and interaction.

FORBES – Men face tougher odds on dating apps because there are more men than women using them (34% vs 27% in the U.S.). On Tinder, men have a match rate of only 0.6%, while women’s is around 10%. Men often aim for women considered more attractive than themselves, leading to more competition and rejection, while women tend to choose partners closer to their own level. This imbalance means a small number of women get most of the attention, while many men get little. In practice, matches usually happen between people of similar attractiveness, not between men chasing out of their league.

See full article at Forbes

How Murugavel Janakiraman Built Matrimony.com From Humble Beginnings in Chennai

Posted on September 8, 2025
A smiling man wearing a dark suit and white shirt, against a light blue background.

BUSINESS STANDARD – Murugavel Janakiraman, founder of Matrimony.com, grew up in a small home in north Chennai without electricity and went on to build one of India’s largest digital matchmaking platforms. A hobby website he launched in 1997 led to the creation of Tamil Matrimony in 2000, which expanded into BharatMatrimony and ~300 portals across 17 languages. Today, Matrimony.com is publicly listed, generates revenues of over ₹425 crore ($50M), and is diversifying into senior citizen matrimony, marriage-enrichment services, and job platforms for entry-level workers.

See full article at Business Standard

Match Group’s Spencer Rascoff: AI Is the Wingman, Not the Date

Posted on September 5, 2025

GEEKWIRE – On CNBC’s Squawk Box, Spencer Rascoff (former Zillow CEO and now leading Match Group) dismissed the idea of people dating AI. He said AI is a “wingman,” powering algorithms on apps like Tinder, Hinge, OKCupid, and Match.com to improve matching, enhance profiles, and suggest conversation starters. Rascoff described AI as “the beating heart of any dating app” that helps people reach real human connection faster. While co-host Andrew Ross Sorkin pressed him on whether AI could become a love interest, Rascoff called that a “dystopian future” and stressed that human connection is primal and irreplaceable.

See full article at GeekWire

RAW Lets Women Decide Who Stays on the App

Posted on September 5, 2025
Black text reading 'RAW' on a vibrant pink background, with a white abstract line design.

BUSINESS WIRE – RAW, the dating app topping Google Play in the US and UK, has introduced a system that lets women decide which men remain on the platform. Users can flag behavior directly on profiles: green for positive, beige for neutral, and red for harmful. Green flags boost visibility, while repeated red flags lead to permanent removal. The flags come from a fixed list to prevent abuse, with moderation ensuring fairness. RAW’s data shows top red flags include having an ex in the profile (24%), mansplaining (19%), and not texting back (17%), while green flags reward good texting (31%), asking questions (28%), and planning dates (19%). Co-founder Marina Anderson said the goal is accountability, safety, and giving respectful men more visibility. 

See full article at Business Wire

Match Group CFO Outlines Growth Plan: Tinder Turnaround, Hinge Expansion, and AI Push

Posted on September 5, 2025
Two men seated on stage for a discussion, with a Citi logo in the background and an audience visible in the foreground.

INVESTING – At Citi’s 2025 TMT Conference, Match Group CFO Steven Bailey said the company is shifting from short-term monetization to long-term user growth. He pointed to 250M active daters not yet using apps as the main opportunity. Tinder is the turnaround focus, with a new management team, weekly product updates, and $50M reinvested into features like Double Date and interactive matching. Hinge is expanding into Mexico and Brazil, optimizing pricing, and remains on track for $1B in revenue by 2027. Bailey said Match pays ~$700M a year in Apple and Google fees and expects $65M or more in savings from in-app payments starting next year. A 13% workforce cut has freed resources for reinvestment. AI is being deployed in recommendations, trust and safety, and new features across Tinder and Hinge, with 30 tools in testing company-wide. Bailey said performance will be judged on real-world outcomes like sustained conversations, which improve retention and word-of-mouth. The three-year turnaround remains on track, with resurgence expected in 2026–2027.

See full article at Investing.com

Cybersecurity Scan Flags Weaknesses Across Major Dating Apps

Posted on September 4, 2025

GLOBE NEWSWIRE – A recent analysis by the cybersecurity platform Business Digital Index (BDI) suggests that many dating apps may have security gaps, with most of the 24 platforms studied receiving poor grades in its scoring system. Only Bumble and EliteSingles scored in the “B” range, while others were marked lower, and some, including Coffee Meets Bagel and Zoosk, received failing grades. The report highlighted recurring weaknesses such as unpatched software, weak email authentication, TLS encryption issues, and web application flaws. BDI notes that its findings are based on external scans of publicly visible systems rather than full internal audits.

See full article at GlobeNewswire

Instant Advisory Board

Posted on September 4, 2025

OPW – The Courtland Brooks team has been helping dating apps grow for an era. (We also help best-in-class service providers approach the dating industry).

We have three kinds of people on the Courtland Brooks team. Core Team members who have been on the team 10 years on average. We have mid-level Special Advisors, and the newest addition to the Courtland Brooks team are what we call our IAB, Instant Advisory Board members. These are super senior, usually CXO level leaders who are available for occasional consults on bigger decisions.

For the price of a marketing manager you can get access to our seasoned team of online dating professionals. See Testimonials here. See pricing and service overview. Email mark@courtlandbrooks.com or simply book an opening call.