Shaadi.com Explores IPO

Posted on December 9, 2025
Logo of Shaadi.com

VOCAL MEDIA – Shaadi.com has begun early discussions with investment bankers about a potential IPO, a move that could significantly boost founder Anupam Mittal’s net worth. The company, a long-time leader in India’s online matchmaking market, is exploring valuation targets and market timing but has not yet appointed advisors. If Shaadi.com lists at an estimated valuation of ~₹2,500 crore (~$300 million), Mittal’s stake could rise sharply from his current estimated net worth of ₹185 crore ($22M). A public listing would increase the value and liquidity of his holdings but also expose his wealth to market volatility. The talks are still preliminary. 

See full article at Vocal Media

Jackie Jantos – the Woman Behind Hinge, Match Group’s Star Performer

Posted on December 8, 2025
A woman with glasses smiling while sitting on a couch, dressed in a black shirt, with a plant in the foreground and a soft, blurred background.

FAST COMPANY – Hinge president and CMO Jackie Jantos has built the brand around authentic, imperfect real-world love stories to push users off the app and into actual dating. Her campaigns – “No Ordinary Love” on Substack and “It’s Funny We Met on Hinge” – use real couples to counter unrealistic cultural narratives and reinforce Hinge’s promise of being “Designed to Be Deleted.” The strategy is working: in Q3 2025, Hinge’s revenue jumped 27% to $185M with 17% growth in paying users, cementing it as Match Group’s standout performer.

See full article at Fast Company

Karima Ben Abdelmalek: Innovating the Future of Online Dating With Happn

Posted on December 5, 2025

LTR – Mark Brooks sits down with Karima Ben Abdelmalek, CEO and President of happn, to delve into HelloGroup’s recent acquisition of the dating app. The conversation covers the app’s unique approach to location-based services, how happn differentiates itself in the competitive dating market, and the strategic changes implemented under Karima’s leadership. They also discuss the future plans for happn, focusing on deeper localization and enhancing user experiences, and how HelloGroup’s expertise will help facilitate these goals. Karima shares insights on maintaining the app’s core identity while adapting to evolving market demands.

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

The October LTR was kindly sponsored by Courtland Brooks

Grindr Supports the U.S. App Store Accountability Act

Posted on December 4, 2025
Grindr Supports the US App Store Accountability Act

GRINDR Grindr supports the U.S. App Store Accountability Act because it would create one unified age-verification system in app stores. They say this would better prevent minors from accessing 18+ apps and avoid making adults submit personal data to multiple apps separately.

See full article at Grindr blog

Bethenny Frankel Unveils “The Core,” a Vetted Social Club for Dating

Posted on December 4, 2025
The Core logo

BLOOMBERG – Bethenny Frankel is launching The Core, a dating platform designed as a vetted social club rather than a traditional app. Users must apply, be accepted, and stay actively involved in helping others make connections. The platform promises curated matches and strict standards—no ghosting, breadcrumbing, catfishing, or shady behavior. The focus is on accountability and meaningful introductions, though many operational details are still being finalized.

See full article at Bloomberg

Is Your Company Saleable?

Posted on December 4, 2025

CourtlandBrooks logoOPW – I mean, is it really an attractive business now? Can it be built into an attractive property quickly? Can it be ‘packaged’ for sale and run out to the top potential acquirers so they arrive at the gate at the same point in time? Perhaps my team and I can help.

For the price of a marketing manager you can get access to a 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.

Hily Dating App Wins Red Dot Design Award

Posted on December 3, 2025
Hily dating app campaign

EINPRESSWIRE – Hily has received the Red Dot Award for Brand Design Identity for its 2024 visual identity relaunch. The rebrand, created with O0 studio, introduced updated colors, a redesigned logo, and a more contemporary look aimed at reflecting the app’s focus on authenticity. The project took roughly two years from development to rollout. Hily, launched in 2017, is now among the top 10 dating apps in the U.S., with 39M users worldwide.

See full article at EinPresswire

Hinge’s CMO Wants Gen Z to Rethink the Dating App Meet-cute

Posted on December 3, 2025
Hinge's CMO Jackie Jantos

FAST COMPANY – Hinge president and CMO Jackie Jantos is pushing Gen Z to rethink the “meet-cute” by highlighting real, imperfect love stories from couples who met on the app. Her campaigns “No Ordinary Love” and “It’s Funny We Met on Hinge”, focus on moving connections offline and reinforce Hinge’s “Designed to Be Deleted” positioning. The strategy is working: Hinge’s Q3 2025 revenue rose 27% to $185M, with paying users up 17%, making it Match Group’s strongest-performing brand.

See full article at Fast Company

Facebook Dating – A Major Dating Platform Nobody Talks About

Posted on December 2, 2025
Logo of Facebook Dating

WIRED – Facebook Dating has quietly become a major dating platform with 21M users, including 1.77M daily active Americans aged 18–29, making it larger than Hinge and more popular among young people than expected. The service sits inside the Facebook app, is free to use, and now features a powerful AI dating assistant, plus upcoming tools like Vibe Check and Meet Cute to improve matching. Users describe it as efficient but sometimes inaccurate with distance, and Gen Z often uses it for clout or content promotion as much as for dating. Meta will launch Facebook Dating’s first marketing campaign in 2026.

See full article at Wired

Study Shows Singles Lower Standards When They Fear Staying Alone

Posted on December 2, 2025
Lonely woman

PSYPOST – A study by Val Wongsomboon (FSU/Yale) and Amanda Gesselman (Kinsey Institute) found that when people imagine being single for several years, they become more willing to date someone with a dealbreaker trait. The specific length of time didn’t matter – just expecting to stay single made standards more flexible. The research also showed that people who view singlehood negatively are more likely to compromise on their boundaries.

See full article at PsyPost