Category: JDate

Finding a Second Act on the Internet

Posted on April 12, 2005

Jdate_dating_success_photoNY TIMES — Apr 12 — Hani joined JDate where she met David, a fellow graduate of Lafayette High School, class of '59. Her email,"David, is that you?"  According to Nielsen/Net Ratings, the number of online dating site users 55 or older rose 19% in the last year.  "As older folks and baby boomers become increasingly Internet-savvy, a lot of them are turning to online dating to find both romance and companionship," said Kristin Kelly, Match.com, whose 50-plus membership has tripled since 2000.  "It's one of our fastest-growing segments," said Andrew Conru, CEO of FriendFinder, which operates SeniorFriendFinder with 400,000 members.  FULL ARTICLE @ NY TIMES

Mark Brooks: My mother is learning to use a computer now, at 72.  She's kicking it's ass at Scrabble.

Spark Networks Q4 & 2004 Annual Report; Files for IPO

Posted on March 10, 2005

Logo_spark OPW — Mar 10 — Q4 revenue $17.1 million (+46%).  2004 revenue $65.1 million (+76%) with net loss of $11.6 million.  2003 net loss was $10.9 million.  JDate revenue in 2004 was $23.8 million (+48%).  AmericanSingles revenue was $35.2 million (+83%). Spark filed with the SEC for a $75 million IPO.

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

Mark Brooks: Spark is battling for market share.  It owns the Jewish market with JDate.  Still, how will investors view these numbers at IPO time? 

A Date With Faith

Posted on February 20, 2005

HOUSTON CHRONICLE — Feb 18 — Thanks to everything from faith-based Internet dating sites to 1,000-member singles groups within congregations, spiritually minded solos across the country are looking to religion for love.  "It's not always so easy when you're single, so it gives them some common ground," said Diana Howard who estimates she has about 2,200 people on her Jewish Community Center singles mailing list. Faith is also an important factor for online daters at Soulmatch. Since launching in mid-2004, the site has picked up 100,000 users president Sujay Jhaveri.

Mark Brooks: Faith based sites represent one of the strongest online personals verticals.  Bigchurch, JDate, ChristianMingle and ChristianCafe.com are the market leaders.

Spark Networks Announces Departure of Co-Founder, Alon Carmel

Posted on February 9, 2005

PRNEWSWIRE — Feb 8 — Spark Networks today announced that Alon Carmel, co-founder and co-chairmen, has resigned his positions with the company to pursue other entrepreneurial and philanthropic interests. Mr. Carmel has agreed to continue to serve the company, as a consultant, and Joe Shapira, the company’s co-chairman, will become chairman of the company’s board of directors.  Since launching JDate.com, eight years ago, Mr. Carmel helped build the company from a fledgling startup into one of the true leaders in the online personals space. 

Spark Networks Announces Departure of Co-Founder, Alon Carmel

Posted on February 9, 2005

PRNEWSWIRE — Feb 8 — Spark Networks today announced that Alon Carmel, co-founder and co-chairmen, has resigned his positions with the company to pursue other entrepreneurial and philanthropic interests. Mr. Carmel has agreed to continue to serve the company, as a consultant, and Joe Shapira, the company’s co-chairman, will become chairman of the company’s board of directors.  Since launching JDate.com, eight years ago, Mr. Carmel helped build the company from a fledgling startup into one of the true leaders in the online personals space. 

MatchNet plc Changes Its Name to Spark Networks plc

Posted on January 10, 2005

PRNewswire — Jan 10 — MatchNet plc (AmericanSingles, JDate) today announced that the company has changed its corporate name to Spark Networks plc, effective today.  It expects the Spark Networks name to more sharply distinguish the company in the marketplace.  The company also said that it has launched a new corporate Web site at www.spark-networks.com. 

JDate’s Matzo Ball on Christmas Eve

Posted on December 21, 2004

PRNEWSWIRE — Dec 21 — JDate today announced it will present the Matzo Ball, a chic and fun Christmas Eve party, in 13 cities across the U.S. and Canada to a number of the continent's trendiest clubs.  JDate was established in 1997 and today has over 600,000 members. Approximately 300 engagements and weddings result from JDate introductions each year.

Mark Brooks: It takes a lot of effort to put on these kinds of events.  They're difficult to justify based on ROI bucks.  But, great events are great for word of mouth marketing.  I think we'll see more events activity from online personals companies in 2005.

JDate Advertises in Times Square and NY Magazine

Posted on November 23, 2004

PRNEWSWIRE — JDate, the largest and most successful online personals site for the Jewish community, today unveiled its first-ever traditional advertising campaign. The New York-focused campaign will feature a 30 second spot in Times Square and a print ad in New York magazine.  JDate has 600,000 members.  300 or so engagements and weddings result from JDate introductions each year.