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Courtland Brooks Services

Posted on February 5, 2026

CourtlandBrooksOPW – The Online Personals Watch news service along with our leadership events and conferences are all owned and operated by Courtland Brooks. We are the only agency / consultancy on the planet that is entirely focused on growing dating and matchmaking and social discovery apps.

For the price of a marketing manager you can get access to our seasoned team of online dating professionals. See Testimonials here. See pricing and service overview. Email mark@courtlandbrooks.com or simply book an opening call here.

Algorithms of Love: Dating in the Digital World — Today at 7:00 PM PT (California Time)

Posted on February 4, 2026
A pink flowchart shaped like a heart, labeled 'Algorithms of Love,' featuring various geometric shapes and arrows illustrating connections and processes.

OPW – Today at 7PM PT, Hanna Kozlowska is hosting a live conversation on how technology and AI are reshaping dating, intimacy, and human connection. The discussion explores the evolution of digitally assisted romance, from early computer matchmaking to modern AI-driven dating platforms, and how these systems have influenced love, sex, relationships, and the business of connection. With online dating now a $9B+ industry and dating AI growing at 25% annually, the conversation focuses on what has fundamentally changed and what remains human.

Hanna is joined by:
Steve Dean, Online Dating Consultant at Dateworking
Gary Kremen, Founder of Match.com
Jeffrey Tarr, Cofounder of Operation Match

The program is streaming live on YouTube.

Seoul Orders Dating Platform Couple.net to Shut Down Over Marriage Brokerage Law

Posted on February 4, 2026
Text graphic featuring the website name 'Couple.net' and Korean text related to matchmaking.

CHOSUN – South Korean matchmaking company Sunoo was ordered by Jongno-gu Office (a Seoul district government) to suspend its online matching platform Couple.net, on the grounds that it violates the Marriage Brokerage Act. Sunoo disputes the ruling, saying Couple.net operates like a dating app such as Tinder and should be regulated under the E-Commerce Act. Couple.net has ~100K users. The suspension would require shutting down payments and refunding users, potentially costing billions of won. A court granted a temporary stay of the enforcement order pending an administrative lawsuit. Sunoo warns that if it loses it may relocate operations to the U.S. Regulators are criticized for applying outdated law to modern platforms while global services are not restricted.

See full article at Chosun

Fox Hunters Club Expands to the DMV With a Focus on Intentional Dating

Posted on February 3, 2026
Logo design featuring a stylized gray fox head above the text 'FOX HUNTERS CLUB' in bold white font, set against a black background.

NATLAWREVIEW – Fox Hunters Club announced its expansion to the Washington, DC–Maryland–Virginia area on May 26, 2026. The dating app targets millennial women seeking committed, non-transactional relationships with Gen X and older men. The launch will be supported by charity initiatives and a series of in-person dating experiences and giveaways branded as a “Summer of Love,” designed to encourage intentional, real-world connections.

See full article at National Law Review

A Kinsey Scientist Says Dating Tech Hasn’t Changed How Humans Bond

Posted on February 3, 2026
A speaker presenting at a podium with hands raised, gesturing during a speech, surrounded by plants and colorful lighting.

MASHABLE – Justin Garcia of the Kinsey Institute says dating apps and AI have not altered the core biology of human bonding. He views AI as a temporary coaching tool, not a substitute for reciprocal relationships, which require mutual effort and shared growth. Dating apps can help people find specific partners but often drive burnout through over-optimization and distraction. Garcia argues Gen Z delays relationships by focusing too much on self-perfection, when emotional development happens inside relationships, not in isolation.

See full article at Mashable

Justin Zinck Appointed Chief Financial Officer at ParshipMeet Group

Posted on February 2, 2026
Justin Zinck, new CFO of ParshipMeetGroup

LINKEDIN – ParshipMeet Group has appointed Justin Zinck as CFO. Zinck brings extensive experience in finance leadership and operational scaling, having spent the past six years at HelloFresh in senior finance roles, most recently as Senior Director Finance for the DACH region, where he focused on improving profitability, scaling finance operations, and supporting strategic transformation.

See full article at LinkedIn

PURE Reaches $100M in Annual Revenue Amid Strong User Growth

Posted on February 2, 2026
PURE DATING APP

BUSINESSWIRE – PURE reached $100M in annual gross revenue by the end of 2025, alongside 95% YOY growth in registrations and 46% revenue growth. The app’s expansion has been driven by a feed-based product design, a more balanced gender mix, strong performance in the US, UK, and France, and continued investment in safety and verification features.

See full article at BusinessWire

Online Dating & Social Discovery Conference, New York – March 18, 2026

Posted on January 30, 2026
Aerial view of New York City featuring a sprawling skyline with skyscrapers, Central Park with lush greenery in the foreground, and the Hudson River in the background.

OPW – The Dating & Social Discovery North America Conference will take place on March 18, 2026, at Etc. Venues, 601 Lexington Avenue, Manhattan. A pre-networking reception is scheduled for March 17, with a post-conference reception following the event on the 18th.

This one-day conference brings together leaders across dating tech, social discovery, and relationship innovation for focused keynote sessions, industry insights, and high-level networking.

Mark Brooks, CEO of Courtland Brooks, will keynote the event. Confirmed speakers include:

  • Ankit Nayal, Founder, Flamme
  • Ethan Martin, CEO & Founder, SLIDE
  • Obai Abdullah, COO & Co-Founder, Charisma Check
  • Colin Hodge, Founder, DownApp
  • Michael O’Sullivan, Owner, HubStars
  • Ikuho Nakahata, CEO, Tapple
  • Jack Hollins, Head of Engineering, Jigsaw Dating
  • Aaron Jacobs, Partner, Prince Lobel
  • Karima Ben Abdelmalek, CEO, happn

Early bird tickets are available until today (January 30, 2026) – £249 for dating brands, £999 for vendors.

Podcast With Candice Gallagher, Founder of Single Pour and 30 Girls Club

Posted on January 29, 2026

GDI – In the latest GDI Podcast episode, Mark Brooks speaks with Candice Gallagher, founder of Single Pour and 30 Girls Club, about how dating is changing for people in their 30s and 40s. Gallagher discusses her shift from dating content to hosting sold-out matchmaking and social events, the limits of dating apps, cultural differences between Singapore and London, and the growing demand for real-world, community-driven ways to meet and connect.

Grant Langston: Navigating eHarmony Milestones

Posted on January 28, 2026

LTR – Join us for an in-depth discussion with Grant Langston, the original marketing lead and former CEO of eHarmony. Grant reflects on the early days of eHarmony, the unique challenges of building and scaling one of the most renowned online dating platforms, and the pivotal moments that saved the company from bankruptcy. He also shares insights from his tenure as CEO where he navigated financial distress, legal battles, and evolving media strategies to turn eHarmony into a success story. Moving beyond eHarmony, Grant delves into his current role at Warehouse Exchange and the transformative impact of AI on business operations. This conversation provides valuable lessons on innovation, resilience, and the continuously evolving landscape of online dating.

[**See the video here on YouTube**]

The December LTR was kindly sponsored by Courtland Brooks