TECH CRUNCH – Thursday, the dating app, which is available only on Thursdays, has expanded to San Francisco. By limiting access to one day a week, it encourages users to schedule real-life meetups promptly, addressing "swiping fatigue". Thursday limits matches to 10 per day, encouraging serious dating efforts. Users can increase this cap with a subscription. The app also organizes in-person singles events through Thursday Event. Founded in 2021, Thursday is available in six countries, including the U.S., U.K., and Australia, and plans to reach 100 cities by the end of 2024.
Category: Thursday
Ashley Coates Discusses “Thursday” Dating App Events
ABC7 – Ashley Coates, the Chicago host for the dating app "Thursday," stopped by ABC 7 Eyewitness News to discuss the app and its unique approach to dating. She shared insights about the app's weekly events, which are designed for those tired of traditional dating apps, held every Thursday.
Dating Apps Aim to Ensure Users and Investors Don’t Swipe Left
THE TIMES – Dating apps face challenges after years of growth, with declining user numbers and management changes. Match Group's value dropped from over $40B in 2021 to $7.8B. The number of paying customers is declining by 9% in its sixth consecutive quarter. At Bumble, Lidiane Jones replaced Whitney Wolfe Herd as CEO in January. She has already laid off 350 employees. Shares in Bumble have fallen by ~30% over the past 12 months and the company is now worth $2B, down from the $13B shortly after the 2021 IPO. Mark Brooks, the CEO of Courtland Brooks, a business that provides consultancy services to online dating companies, said that a proportion of users were willing to pay a premium for dating apps. "They're leaving a lot of money on the table," he said. "There's a small portion of people who are willing to pay considerably more. Some people don’t have time, they just want dates, so the more you can help them with that, they'll pay disproportionate amounts and spend $500 a month, perhaps, which is what Tinder is playing with right now." Acquisitions also have a role to play in helping Match to grow. Hinge, bought by the group in 2018, has been an important investment. It describes itself as the app that is "designed to be deleted". Brooks said: "Theoretically they wouldn't want users to delete the apps because they're not going to get paid any more, but they’re conveying that it's the app for a high-quality experience. Hinge is important to Match. It offsets some of the decline in user weakness for Tinder. But it is still small relative to the size of the group." Others in the industry are also hoping to shake up the market. One such is Thursday. Founded by Matt McNeill Love and George Rawlings, the dating app, as its name suggests, works only on Thursdays, when it hosts singles events in various locations in cities such as London and New York.
by Emma Taggart
See full article at The Times
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Dating App Thursday’s Graffitied Car Stunt in Sydney ‘Backfires’
NEWS.COM.AU – A car graffitied with messages like 'cheater' and 'scum' in Sydney turned out to be a promotional stunt by the dating app Thursday. Initially causing online speculation about a revenge act, the company later revealed on Instagram that it was a creative attempt to grab attention due to their limited marketing budget. The stunt, involving a car owned by Thursday's city representative, aimed to promote Thursday Events in Sydney, a concept where singles meet in person. Despite some praise, the marketing tactic faced criticism for associating the dating app with negative themes like cheating and vandalism, leaving many confused and unimpressed. The controversy highlights the fine line between innovative marketing and potential brand damage.
Thursday App CEO Apologizes for Insensitive Layoff Announcement on LinkedIn
CITYAM – The CEO of the dating app Thursday, George Rawlings, apologized following backlash over a LinkedIn post about layoffs at his company. In the deleted post, he stated that 70% of the staff pictured had been made redundant, yet claimed Thursday was stronger than ever. His post, perceived as insensitive, drew mixed reactions. The app, known for its once-a-week live feature and pop-up events in London and New York, had raised £2.5m in seed funding. Rawlings acknowledged the post did not convey his intended message and expressed a commitment to rectify this and do right by his team.
Dating App Thursday Transforms From Dating App to In-Person Singles Bar Experience
OPW – Thursday, initially renowned for its unique dating app that only activated on Thursdays, is taking a bold new direction. Thursday is moving beyond being just an app or an event organizer. Transitioning from digital matchmaking, Thursday is now set to launch a groundbreaking concept: The Singles Bar. The company's plan is to have a dedicated place in every major city in the world where singles from Hinge, Bumble, Tinder, pearº hang out on a Thursday night for IRL human connection.
How the Success of the Green Ring Experiment Boosted Thursday Dating App
LINKEDIN – Six months ago, the founder of dating app, Thursday, initiated an experiment called pearº. The idea was to eliminate the need for dating apps by introducing green rings that singles could wear to indicate their openness to real-world connections. Surprisingly, it worked better than expected, with numerous success stories pouring in. While some questioned if this move was counterintuitive, it turns out pearº has paved the way for Thursday's expansion into 115 cities across four continents by the end of the year. Sometimes, creating competition can lead to growth.
Matthew McNeill Love, Co-founder & COO of Thursday, Shares Insight Into Company’s Quiet Phase
LINKEDIN – Matthew McNeill Love, the COO and Co-founder of dating app Thursday, recently opened up about why the company has been less active on social media. Despite a challenging year marked by hesitant venture capital and economic downturn, Thursday decided to go inward, focusing on improving its product rather than scaling. Last February, the team concentrated on strengthening their brand, refining user experience, and setting a clearer path to scalability, all part of their next phase dubbed "Thursday 2.0." During this time, the app reached a significant milestone of 1M downloads. The company also developed another singles brand with global reach, expanding its presence in markets like the US, UK, EU, Australia, and Canada. Love concluded by hinting at exciting developments in the coming months.
Understanding User Behavior: the Intersection of Profit and Matchmaking in Dating Apps
INSIDEHOOK – Dating apps operate with different business models that could significantly impact user experiences. While apps like Hinge market themselves as platforms designed to find lasting connections, others like Tinder and Bumble have focused on optimizing user engagement. Apps like Thursday have sought to limit user interaction to reduce the gamification effect. Despite the surface altruism, these businesses are driven by a profit motive, focusing on user retention and regular engagement to maintain an active user base. This has sparked speculation about whether these apps, incentivized to keep users active, could unintentionally prolong the quest for meaningful connections. Each app caters to a unique demographic and promotes a distinct user experience, potentially affecting the user's dating life.
Dating App Thursday Organizes a Ski-Trip for 1K Singles
LINKEDIN – The dating app Thursday has announced a ski trip for 1000 singles to France on April 15 – 22nd, 2023. ~4K people said they want to come in 24 hours, according to the LinkedIn post of Thursday's co-founder & CEO George Rawlings. Singles can register here. Over 4000 people said they want to come in 24 hours. All registrations will also be entered into a prize draw to win two free places on the trip.
