TECHROUND – Colin Hodge, CEO and Co-Founder of Bang With Friends, shares the journey of launching a controversial app in Silicon Valley. The app quickly gained popularity, reaching 1M users within 3.5 months. However, it faced challenges, including bans from Apple's App Store and Google's Play Store and a trademark infringement lawsuit from Zynga. After rebranding to DOWN, the company persevered and celebrated its 10-year anniversary in January. With ~10M users, DOWN has seen a 500% increase in its user match-rate and a 268% revenue growth since 2019, making it a profitable top 20 dating app in the USA.
Category: Reporters – Dana Leigh
Dating Apps Need a Corporate Digital Responsibility Revamp
TECHROUND – A recent study by EthicsGrade reveals that the level of corporate digital responsibility (CDR) transparency among dating platforms is disappointingly low, considering the industry's significant reliance on digitalization. The research emphasizes the need for improved transparency, particularly in privacy and cybersecurity measures, as users increasingly entrust these platforms with their personal information. The study highlights the lack of transparency regarding how matching algorithms work, hindering users' ability to evaluate and trust the platforms. Overall, dating platforms fall short in disclosing their cybersecurity processes.
Q&A With Lori Cheek, Founder and CEO of Cheekd
TECH ROUND – Mar 9 – After setting up a profile and filters, Cheekd will send users' notifications when a potential is nearby. And because Cheekd uses Bluetooth, it doesn't require an Internet connection. Users will get a notification if someone who meets their criteria is within 30 feet of them.
Q: How did you come up with the idea for the company?
A: In 2008, I was out to dinner with a colleague. He'd spotted an attractive woman and scribbled, "Want to have dinner?" on the back of his business card and slipped it to her as we were leaving the restaurant. He left with a date. I left with an idea. I launched Cheekd – a deck of ice-breaking dating cards with a unique code that lead the recipient to the privacy protected online dating profile. We've since pivoted Cheekd into a hyper-speed app that gives singles the ability to never miss a real-life potential "love connection."
Q: What can we hope to see from Cheekd in the future?
A: My plan is to expand and create a spin off tp allow users to have a more organic, yet virtual way, of making connections for anything from business, networking, fitness, friendship or hobbies.
by Dana Leigh
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