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 Sunoo warns that if it loses it may relocate operations to the U.S. Regulators are criticized for applying outdated law to modern platforms while global services are not restricted.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

Ditto Raises $9.2M to Turn College Dating Into Planned Real-World Dates

Posted on February 3, 2026
A group of people standing together in a social setting with the text 'Ditto' and 'Get a date every Wednesday' prominently displayed.

GLOBENEWSWIRE – Ditto raised $9.2M in seed funding to expand its iMessage-based matchmaking service for college students. The round was led by Peak XV Partners, with participation from Gradient, Scribble Ventures, Alumni Ventures, and Llama Venture. Ditto eliminates swiping and in-app chatting. Users submit preferences and availability, and Ditto plans one complete in-person date at a time, including match details, time, and location. After each date, user feedback is used to refine future matches. Launched at UC San Diego, Ditto has expanded to UC Berkeley, USC, UCLA, and UC Davis. It has 42K+ users, with 25% via referrals, and reports that 20% of matches result in actual dates. The funding will support campus expansion and a series of large-scale blind-date yacht events starting February 2026. Longer term, Ditto plans to expand beyond college dating into other real-world social and professional matchmaking.

See full article at GlobeNewswire

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

Known Uses AI Interviews to Replace Swiping With One-to-One Matching

Posted on February 2, 2026
Logo of dating app Known

FAST COMPANY – Known is a dating app that replaces swiping with an AI-led interview process. Users speak with an AI that assesses interests, values, and context, then receive one curated match at a time rather than multiple options. The app handles introductions and date logistics, aiming to prioritise compatibility and real-world dates over prolonged in-app engagement.

See full article at Fast Company

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

HubPeople Spring Conference 2026

Posted on February 2, 2026
HubPeople Spring Conference

LINKEDIN – HubPeople will be hosting a Spring Conference in Palma on 28–29 April 2026, bringing together partners and brands from across the dating industry. The two-day event will take place at INNSiDE by Meliá Palma Center, with the first afternoon and evening held on the rooftop for informal sessions, networking, and a drinks reception, followed by a group tapas dinner in the city. The conference continues on the morning of 29 April and concludes at 13:30. Full agenda and ticket details are available on the Eventbrite page.

Grindr Introduces Temporary Privacy and Safety Measures for the 2026 Winter Olympics

Posted on February 2, 2026
Close-up of a smartphone displaying the Grindr logo in yellow against a dark background.

FINDARTICLES – Grindr is introducing temporary privacy and safety features for the 2026 Winter Olympics to reduce risks associated with increased app usage around athlete villages. Measures include stronger location privacy controls, unlimited disappearing messages, message unsending, default screenshot blocking, in-app safety reminders, and the suspension of third-party ads in favor of public service announcements. 

See full article at FindArticles

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.