LOS ANGELES TIMES – Grindr is rolling out an AI-powered premium tier focused on faster, more personalized matching, with features like curated daily matches, compatibility insights, and chat summaries, while also expanding AI across safety, inbox prioritization, and search; the move is part of a broader shift to become an AI-first company, as competitors like Bumble and Tinder push similar AI-driven tools to attract users.
LOS ANGELES TIMES – UC Davis relationship researcher Paul Eastwick, author of Bonded by Evolution: The New Science of Love and Connection, argues dating is driven by compatibility and emotional attachment rather than looks, money, or fixed “mate value.” Instead of many quick app dates, people should broaden social circles and spend more time with fewer partners across different activities. His research finds men and women want largely the same qualities – support and security – and connection forms through repeated interaction, not rapid filtering.
LOS ANGELES TIMES – Smriti Mundhra, the executive producer of the Netflix show “Indian Matchmaking,” has spearheaded another matchmaking series focusing on the Muslim American community. Patti Novak and Patti Stanger pioneered the matchmaker series in “Confessions of a Matchmaker” in 2007, and Stanger was “The Millionaire Matchmaker” in 2008, running for 8 seasons. In April 2024, Stanger appeared in a new series, “Patti Stanger: The Matchmaker.” Adam Cohen-Aslatei, the CEO of Three Day Rule, said the shows dive into relationships and dating and teach viewers how to approach their dating lives in a more productive way. Lox Club is a “members club for Jewish people with ridiculously high standards,” joined the matchmaking space in May 2024. Stanger said since COVID she noticed a shift in more women turning to matchmaking services, which used to be solicited primarily by men. She added that her business is “on fire” right now. Stanger’s packages start at $50k, and Three Day Rule starts at $5,900.
by Kaitlyn Huamani
See full article at Los Angeles Times
Mark Brooks: I believe in matchmaking and bought Matchmaker.com. Online dating warms people up to the idea of spending money to get help. Matchmaking picks up where the dating industry leaves off, and provides support for pre-date preparation and post-date feedback.
LOS ANGELES TIMES – With younger daters losing interest in traditional swipe-based apps, new Los Angeles startups like First Round's on Me, Summer, Lox Club, and Feeld are creating alternatives focused on in-person interactions and community-based dating. These apps move away from endless swiping, instead encouraging real-life meetups and targeting niche communities. While large platforms like Tinder and Bumble still lead the market, their slowed growth has allowed smaller apps to attract users looking for fresh dating experiences.
by Caroline Petrow-Cohen
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See the top news on FROM See the top news on Summer
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by Caroline Petrow-Cohen
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by Stephanie Yang & David Shen
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LOS ANGELES TIMES – The dating app Snack introduces AI chatbots to help users navigate the initial stages of online dating. Users train their chatbot avatars to answer questions and engage in conversation on their behalf. Snack's CEO, Kim Kaplan, believes this approach can reduce the stress and time spent on back-and-forth messaging. The article highlights some issues with the AI implementation, such as bots making plans without the user's knowledge. While some experts see potential in AI chatbots for improving dating app experiences, others question their ability to accurately represent users and foster authentic connections.
LOS ANGELES TIMES – Heterosexual couples in the U.S. are now more likely to meet a romantic partner online than via any other mode of connection. And during the pandemic, online dating reached new heights. On Snack, users upload TikTok-style videos instead of photos. The company is focusing on on-the-ground promotion at college campuses and currently has the most users in California, Texas, Florida and New York. Schmooze, another dating app wooing Gen Z, is also organized around a form of digital content. Instead of people's profiles, users are greeted with a meme set against a colorful, cartoon-like backdrop, with the choice to swipe right for "like" and left for "don't like." Dating app called Iris is taking the opposite approach. Returning to the fundamentals of physical attraction, the app, which was launched in early 2020, has users train a machine-learning algorithm by swiping through three rounds of stock photos. It then recommends potential matches.
by Jaimie Ding
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LOS ANGELES TIMES – As co-CEO of Kelleher International, one of the country's largest matchmaking firms, Amber Kelleher-Andrews, 52, has been pairing off super-rich singles for more than half of her life. There is no minimum net worth required – being able to pay the $300K membership fee is proof enough – but clients must be serious about wanting long-term commitment. Kelleher-Andrews and her mother, Jill Kelleher, who founded the company in 1986, panicked at the start of COVID, fearing it meant the demise of their business. Times of crisis have often translated to an unexpected boom in business for the company. People are reevaluating. The majority of the firm's 800 inquiries a month come from online search traffic, and about a third from referrals. To make the cut, Kelleher-Andrews and her team probe a potential client's finances, education, marital status, dating history, family background and career trajectory, and conduct interviews to gauge commitment and charm. Fewer than 5% are accepted.
LOS ANGELES TIMES – The top scam targets in 2020 were people 40 to 69 years old, according to the FTC (in Feb) and the number of reported victims rose in every age group. 30,000 were reported to the FTC in 2020, 3 times 2016, with losses 4x at $304 million. The median loss was $2,500. Romance scammers prowl any territory where people search for love or connect. Dating services and also social media networks, where ~half the scams originate. A key part of the con is the scammer's ability to pretend to be someone he or she isn't.
by Jon Healey
See full article at Los Angeles Times
Mark Brooks: I recommend taking a look at RealMe and FaceTec and UrSafe to help your members run a quick background check, verify, and have the ability to call for help while on a date. Email me at mark@courtlandbrooks.com for a direct intro. (Sponsors of OPW). Safety is of paramount concern and a key-value we aim to deliver. I search out best-in-class vendors and these companies are tops and very interested in working with us.
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