Category: FastLife

Shaadi.com, A 20-million-strong Indian Matrimonial Site

Posted on August 9, 2010

Shaadi logo THE GLOBE AND MAIL – Aug 6 – Unlike Lavalife and eHarmony users, members on sites such as Shaadi.com often have a parent looking over their shoulder – if not running their profile outright. About 30% of the Canadian profiles on Shaadi are made by parents for their sons and daughters – and scrutinized routinely. Among other criteria, the site lets members search by community, religion, caste and sub caste. The company recently teamed up with FastLife International, which organizes speed dating and singles' events around the world. About two years ago, FastLife launched events for Hindus, Christians and Jews, as well as East Asians. For this community, they host four events monthly in Toronto and two a month in Vancouver, Montreal and Ottawa.

The full article was originally published at Globe and Mail, but is no longer available.

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The Art Of Flirting, In 140 Characters Or Less

Posted on February 22, 2010

Fastlife logo new CTV.CA – Feb 13 – Typing or texting to Twitter is becoming a go-to way to flirt and find love as people become more comfortable in the Web 2.0 world. "Flitter," a flirting game that was hosted by speed dating company FastLife, gave singles the chance to tweet flirty messages to others at the event. FastLife founders Justin and Annabelle Parfitt said flirting through Twitter allows people to come out of their shells and begin to interact.

The full article was originally published at CTV.ca, but is no longer available.

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Founders Of FastLife In A New Reality Show

Posted on January 11, 2010

Loveincorporated picture NATIONAL POST – Jan 11 - Justin and Annabelle Parfitt are the stars of Love Incorporated, a new reality TV series airing on the Slice network. Justin and Annabelle own FastLife, a speed dating company that operates in Canada, Australia, US, UK and China. The couple lives a semi-nomadic existence, bouncing between desks in existing offices and meetings in developing markets. The 13-episode series focuses on the couple's relationship and their business, zeroing in on some of FastLife's 150-200 monthly events.

The full article was originally published at National Post, but is no longer available.

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Prestige Speed Dating w/Honesty Online

Posted on September 8, 2008

Fastlife_honestyonline_loga THE ASSOCIATED PRESS — Sep 7 — Prestige Speed Dating is a new service catering to "successful" singles, launched by dating firm FastLife.com and Honesty Online, an identity-verification service. FastLife says it has identified an increase in concern among its members about finances, as opposed to appearance and age. All Prestige members will meet minimum financial criteria. "Recessions cause people to alter their behaviors, and dating habits are no exception," says FastLife founder Justin Parfitt. FULL ARTICLE @ SEATTLE TIMES

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Lookin’ For Love In Canada

Posted on August 18, 2008

Canada_flag CANWEST — Aug 16 — A growing number of Canadians are willing to pay for services such as online dating, speed dating, singles groups and matchmakers. Kim Hughes, editor-in-chief of Lavalife, says there are two key reasons that people pay to date: efficiency and customized searches. It's Just Lunch is a matchmaking service that works with upscale restaurant partners and charges $1,995 for one-year membership. Meet Market Adventures is a more casual singles service. It is a "pay-as-you-play" model with no membership fee, but individual fees are charged for each event. Meet Market organizes approximately 35 to 45 events every month. Justin Parfitt was single and looking to improve on existing speed-dating models when he founded his company, FastLife, in Australia in 2003. FastLife is now based in Toronto and has expanded into Canada, the U.S., New Zealand, the U.K. and China. The price of a standard event is $79 and includes an open bar.

The full article was originally published at The Windsor Star, but is no longer available.

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Extreme Fitness And FastLife Team Up

Posted on July 14, 2008

Fitspeeddate_image PRESS RELEASE — July 11 — Extreme Fitness, a fitness club operator in the Greater Toronto Area, has teamed up with FastLife, the speed dating and singles event service, to introduce Fit2SpeedDate, a group fitness fusion class that combines circuit training with speed dating.

The full article was originally published at PR Inside, but is no longer available.

FastLife Speed Dating In China

Posted on May 22, 2008

Fastlife_logo PRESS RELEASE — May 22 — FastLife Speed Dating, the international singles events service, is set to launch in China on 31st May 2008. FastLife will invite Zhenai.com's (China's leading online dating website, formerly known as 96333.com) eight million registered members to participate in stylish speed dating events in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Guangzhou.

The full article was originally published at Fast Life website, but is no longer available.

Mark Brooks: Speed dating is popular in China. Irena and I spent 2 months in Shanghai last year after the Asian Internet Dating Conference. The main challenge for Chinese idating companies is monthly billing. Very few Chinese users have credit cards. So dating sites bill via cell phones. However, the government effectively halved the maximum amount that can be charged on a recurring basis…from ~$3 to ~$1.50 a month. 96333.com is run by Dr Song Li, a frequent, vocal and very knowledgeable attendee of the internet dating conferences.

Guinness World Record Speed Dating Event

Posted on February 12, 2008

Fastlife_logo PRESS RELEASE — Feb 11 — In cities around the world over 2500 singles will participate in a Guinness World Record attempt for the world's biggest speed date event, this Valentine's Day. FastLife Speed Dating will host 19 simultaneous events in cities around the globe, including London, Sydney, Toronto and New York. The event is free for the public to attend; any single night owls that would like to attend need only register on http://www.fastlife.com and pay the $1 booking fee.

The full article was originally published at FastLife website, but is no longer available.

Mark Brooks: FastLife charges $70 and includes free food and drink at events. Predating (part of Cupid.com) charges $39, Hurrydate charges $37, and 8 Minute Dating charges $35. People will pay $70 for speed dating events, just so they can meet other people who are able and motivated enough to pay $70.