GDI – Mark Brooks interviews Ikuho Nakahata, Head of Marketing at Tapple, about the Japanese online dating market. Ikuho explains how Tapple grew to 20M users by focusing on shared interests, a simple swipe interface, and trust features that helped move past Japan’s old “deaikei” stigma. She discusses key competitors like Pairs and the dating app with, and explains how Tapple positions itself as the more casual, youth-oriented option in a crowded market. Ikuho also introduces Koigram, Tapple’s new free MBTI-style personality-matching app designed to lower barriers for men and women and offer a fresh, shareable dating experience.
p>Month: November 2025
Voicetep Secures ¥200 Million to Expand Its Voice-Only Matching App
THE BRIDGE – Voicetep raised ¥200M ($1.3M) to expand its voice-based dating app and communication platform. The app, launched in April 2025, matches users through voice calls first and moves to video or messaging only with mutual consent. It holds a patent for voice-only matching and includes an AI tool that analyzes conversation patterns.
See full article at The Bridge
Grindr Shares Rise After Majority Owner Drops Buyout Bid
FORBES – Grindr’s shares rose after majority owner Raymond Zage withdrew his bid to take the company private and instead pledged to buy more shares on the open market. Zage and partner James Lu, who own ~64% of Grindr, dropped their $3.5B bid after the company’s special committee stopped talks due to uncertainty over financing. Grindr stock has gained over the past two days, recovering part of the drop that followed the halted buyout discussions. Zage, who has already bought ~$200M in shares since 2022, is pushing for higher shareholder returns through buybacks and possibly dividends. Grindr continues to grow, reporting 15M monthly users, 1.3M paying subscribers, rising profits, and strong EBITDA guidance.
See full article at Forbes
Parship Study: Dating Trends for 2026
PARSHIP – Parship’s 2026 Dating Compass highlights a shift toward more intentional dating, with “Re:loving” emerging as the key trend as singles focus on clear goals and long-term potential. The study of ~3K people shows that singles, especially women, prioritise transparency, stability and security for 2026. For daters over 40, clarity and fewer compromises become more important. The report also finds that while singles are open to AI for inspiration, they reject AI-generated messages; Parship introduces an AI “Harmony Check” to help users gauge compatibility and start conversations.
Seeking’s Approach to Stopping Fake Profiles
TECHROUND – Hoony Youn, CTO at Seeking, says dating apps attract fraud because users arrive open and emotionally receptive, and it’s historically been easy for criminals to hide behind fake identities. Seeking introduced Selfie Liveness Verification with AWS Rekognition, a biometric check that detects whether someone is a real person rather than a deepfake, spoof or stolen photo. The system checks for details like texture and blood flow and flags mismatches with previously banned accounts. This year, ~50K fake profiles were stopped, many using AI-generated images. Youn notes that verification hasn’t slowed sign-ups, and that strong safety measures are becoming essential across the industry as romance fraud and AI-driven scams increase.
See full article at TechRound
Chapter 2 Hosts New Event for Widowed Singles in London
LONDON-TV – Chapter 2 Dating, the UK’s first app for widows and widowers, is hosting a free Widowed Speed Social on 2 Dec 2025 in Central London. The event gives bereaved singles a safe, welcoming space to meet others who understand their journey and are open to friendship or romance. Founded by widow Nicky Wake, Chapter 2 is bringing its community offline to support people navigating life after loss. Men are especially encouraged to attend, as widowed men are often underrepresented in support spaces.
See full article at London-TV
The Science Behind Cuffing Season
BBC – “Cuffing season” is the cultural idea that singles look for short-term relationships during autumn and winter. The term likely emerged around 2009, but its origins are unclear. While dating app activity does rise between Nov and Feb, scientists say humans aren’t seasonal breeders like some animals. Instead, the trend seems driven by social and psychological factors. Research shows searches related to dating and sex peak in both winter and summer, not just the colder months. Some older studies suggested more sexual activity around Christmas, but recent evidence is limited. Experts say mood changes caused by reduced daylight, including lower serotonin and disrupted circadian rhythms, can increase the desire for connection. Winter loneliness, family pressure during the holidays, and the biological pull of bonding hormones like oxytocin may all play a role.
Alex Sergeev Joins Blazr as Co-Founder and Head of Growth
LINKEDIN – Alex Sergeev has joined Blazr as co-founder and head of growth. Blazr is a social network and dating app for the cannabis-friendly community, connecting medical users, recreational consumers, and anyone who shares those interests. Sergeev brings experience from Social Discovery Group, Reflex Media, SkaDate, and FunnelFlex AI, strengthening Blazr’s growth and product capabilities.
Grindr Ends Talks on $3.46 Billion Take-private Bid Over Financing Uncertainty
REUTERS – Grindr has ended talks on a $3.46B take-private offer from its major shareholders Ray Zage and James Lu after they failed to provide clear financing details. The stock fell ~12% after the announcement. Grindr says the breakdown of talks does not change its strategy and that it is still projecting ~26% revenue growth for the year. The company continues to outperform Match Group and Bumble despite weaker sentiment in the dating-app sector. Zage and Lu, who bought Grindr in 2020 and took it public in 2022, hold ~60% of the shares.
See full article at Reuters
Hinge’s New D.A.T.E. Report: How Gen Z Can Close the Communication Gap in 2026
HINGE – Hinge’s 2025 Gen Z D.A.T.E. Report shows that young daters want deeper connection but struggle to start meaningful conversations. The study, based on ~30K surveyed users, highlights a clear communication gap driven by hesitation and mixed gender expectations. Gen Z often feels they ask enough questions on dates, but many feel their dates don’t ask enough in return. Vulnerability is another barrier, with many feeling exposed after opening up even though most people are comfortable hearing others share. Looking ahead to 2026, Gen Z plans to close this gap by asking better questions, using tools like Voice Notes, going on sober dates, and trying AI as a light support tool rather than a replacement for real conversation.
See full article at Hinge website