Category: All LTR Videos

Steve Baker on the FTC’s ‘Click to Cancel’ Rule: What It Means for Online Dating and Consumer Protection

Posted on February 25, 2025

LTR – Steve Baker, former FTC director and fraud detection expert, discusses the evolution of trust and safety in online dating and the FTC’s new “Click to Cancel” rule. With 27 years at the FTC and 5 years at the Better Business Bureau, he has plenty to share about consumer fraud, deceptive subscription marketing, and the agency’s efforts to protect consumers from confusing auto-renewals and free trial scams. The new regulation, set to take effect on March 31, 2025, aims to provide simpler cancellations and impose more severe penalties for misleading claims, affecting businesses globally. Tune in as Baker breaks down its effects on online dating and consumer protection.

[**See the video here on Youtube**]

The January LTR was kindly sponsored by Dating Through Curiosity, RealMe, and Courtland Brooks

Vanessa Panes – Unraveling the Complexities of Filipino Dating Culture

Posted on January 21, 2025

LTR – Vanessa Panes Antonio is the founder of Singles Events Manila, which specializes in the dynamics of dating in the Philippines, specifically the rise of cross-cultural relationships. With a matchmaker and certified coach background, Vanessa discusses how her company pairs desirable Filipina women – for their beauty, success, and independence – with foreign partners, breaking down stereotypes while creating meaningful connections. She introduces some important cultural terms, like “AFAM,” which means foreigner in Manila, and some traditional Filipino courtship practices centered on sincerity and commitment. Vanessa talks about the Philippines’ thriving digital dating scene and the country’s still-strong fascination with Western culture.

[**See the video here on Youtube**]

The November LTR was kindly sponsored by ParshipMeet Group, RealMe, Dating Through Curiosity, along with Courtland Brooks and Matchmaker.com

Dare Olatoye – Online Dating Market in Africa

Posted on January 13, 2025

LTR – Dare Olatoye is the co-founder and CEO of Trueflutter, a matchmaking app for Africans and their diaspora. He shares his fascinating journey building the app with innovative features like audio bios and nationality-based filters, which has attracted ~500K users. Trueflutter stands out for its embrace of African cultural nuances, and Dare shares how it all started with his sister's late-life marriage and a focus on meaningful relationships rather than casual encounters. Despite funding challenges and competition, the app has been a huge success, with 108 marriages in 3 years, surpassing Tinder and Bumble in the African market.

[**See the video here on Youtube**]

The November LTR was kindly sponsored by ParshipMeet Group, RealMe, Dating Through Curiosity, along with Courtland Brooks and Matchmaker.com

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Fireside Chat With Julie Ferman

Posted on December 23, 2024

LTR – Julie Ferman, a seasoned dating coach and matchmaker with over 30 years of experience, shares insights into the matchmaking industry and her unique approach to personalized dating services. In this interview, Julie highlights the importance of balancing affordability and quality in matchmaking, addressing the gap between high-end services and accessible solutions. She follows a very service-oriented philosophy, providing options like consultations, boot camps, and matchmaking based on the clients' needs while challenging exploitation in the industry. Julie's path – from personal struggles with dating to one of the most trusted coaches – showcases her will to help clients find their soulmates.

The October LTR was kindly sponsored by ParshipMeet Group, RealMe, Dating Through Curiosity, along with Courtland Brooks and Matchmaker.com

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Fireside Chat With Ethan Martin

Posted on December 17, 2024

LTR – Ethan Martin, founder of Gen Z-focused dating app SLIDE, shares insights from his journey as an entrepreneur. Having learned a thing or two from his previous food delivery app, Round, he stresses the importance of solving one's own problems to devise impactful solutions. SLIDE caters exclusively to 18–28-year-olds, addressing their desire for safety and authenticity with mandatory ID verification. Slide launched in 2023, built off of extensive market research, using humor and relatability across platforms like TikTok to engage users. Ethan's bold vision positions SLIDE as a standout in the dating app market, focusing on a safe and lively community for young people.

[**See the video here on Youtube**]

The October LTR was kindly sponsored by ParshipMeet Group, RealMe, Dating Through Curiosity, along with Courtland Brooks and Matchmaker.com

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Jim Safka & Adam Hanft – the Future of Online Dating

Posted on October 31, 2024

LTR – Jim Safka, former CEO of Match.com, and Adam Hanft, former brand strategist for Match.com, offer perspectives from their collaboration on the redevelopment of the online dating site. Safka led Match.com through international expansion by localizing the user experience across various markets. Meanwhile, Hanft’s strategic expertise contributed to helping outline the future of the brand. They discuss cultural nuances in dating and how those shaped Match’s success on a global scale. They also cover problems that have plagued the current online dating industry, including lack of innovation, monetization strategies, and building community-oriented platforms.

[**See the video here on Youtube**]

The September LTR was kindly sponsored by ParshipMeet Group, RealMe, Dating Through Curiosity, along with Courtland Brooks and Matchmaker.com

Eric Resnick – How to Fix the Dating Industry

Posted on October 24, 2024

LTR – Eric Resnick, founder and lead profile advisor at ProfileHelper.com, brings ~20+ years of experience in online dating coaching. With a background in PR and crisis management, Eric shifted to the online dating space in 2000 and has since become a trusted advisor, working with ~40K individual daters and consulting for many dating sites. He reflects on the changing dynamics of online dating, highlighting challenges like growing skepticism, the influence of algorithms, and monetization strategies that can interfere with genuine connections. Eric underscores the value of authentic profiles and intentional communication in building meaningful relationships in today's digital world.

[**See the video here on Youtube**]

The August LTR was kindly sponsored by ParshipMeet Group, RealMe, Dating Through Curiosity, along with Courtland Brooks and Matchmaker.com

Fireside Chat With Colin Hodge, President of DOWN Dating App

Posted on September 5, 2024

LTR – Colin Hodge, President and Co-Founder of DOWN Dating App, shares the fascinating journey of creating the app, originally known as Bang with Friends. He discusses how the app was born from a spontaneous idea, quickly became a viral sensation, and underwent significant transformations, including a rebrand and a challenging removal from the Apple App Store. Despite these hurdles, Colin emphasizes perseverance and staying true to their mission of promoting sex-positive, shame-free dating. He also highlights the app's evolution, including innovative features like Snap Match, which connects users internationally for real-time flirting and cultural exchange.

[**See the video here on Youtube**]

The August LTR was kindly sponsored by ParshipMeet Group, RealMe, Dating Through Curiosity, along with Courtland Brooks and Matchmaker.com

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Jessica Alderson – Lessons From a Dating Startup, and Our Pivot

Posted on August 21, 2024

LTR – Jessica Alderson, co-founder and CEO of So Syncd, shares her entrepreneurial journey from starting the dating app with her sister in 2021 to its recent transformation into a media company focused on dating, relationships, and personality content. Originally matching users based on personality compatibility, So Syncd evolved in response to challenges in the dating app market and capitalized on growing interest in personality content. Jessica emphasizes that pivots can be positive and unintentional, highlights the difficulties of running dual businesses with limited resources, and shares insights on investor communication, user conversion, and the importance of organic growth. Now, with a new CEO and a rebranded focus, So Syncd continues to help people find meaningful connections while exploring new monetization strategies and industry partnerships.

The July LTR was kindly sponsored by ParshipMeet Group, RealMe, Dating Through Curiosity, along with Courtland Brooks and Matchmaker.com

Brandon Wade and Dana Rosewall – Fireside Chat

Posted on August 15, 2024

LTR – Brandon Wade, an MIT graduate and former executive at GE and Microsoft, started Seeking in 2006 and later founded What’s Your Price and Miss Travel. He co-leads these ventures with his wife, Dana Rosewall, who brings a fresh perspective to the dating industry. They met on Seeking.com, which Brandon created to overcome his dating challenges. After rebranding Seeking to move away from the controversial “sugar dating” term, they now focus on “modern hypergamy,” promoting mutual socioeconomic uplift in relationships. Their goal is to reduce online dating fatigue by fostering genuine connections and enhancing user experience, especially for women.

The July LTR was kindly sponsored by ParshipMeet Group, RealMe, Dating Through Curiosity, along with Courtland Brooks and Matchmaker.com