SCANX – Info Edge’s subsidiary Jeevansathi Internet Services has bought the remaining 3.65% stake in Aisle Network Pvt. Ltd. for ₹5.5 crore ($620K), making Aisle a wholly-owned subsidiary. The deal includes 1,279 equity shares and ends prior seller arrangements. Aisle runs Indian dating apps Aisle, Anbe, Arike, Neetho, and Jalebi. Financially, it reported a turnover of ₹39.62 crore ($4.5M), loss of ₹17.8 crore ($2M), and net worth of ₹20.86 crore ($2.4M).
See full article at ScanX
LOS ANGELES TIMES – Tinder is testing a new direction by bringing dating offline through campus events and influencer-driven activations. At UCLA, the app hosted a live concert with DJ Disco Lines, promoted through TikTok creators and exclusive in-app access to event details. The goal is to re-engage Gen Z by turning swiping fatigue into real-world connection, using music and social experiences to make dating feel fun again. This marks the start of Tinder’s broader push to merge digital matchmaking with in-person social events that drive both engagement and cultural relevance.
See full article at Los Angeles Times
METRO.CO.UK – Grindr launched “I Wool Survive,” a fashion line made from the wool of gay rams rescued by Germany’s Rainbow Wool farm. Designed by Michael Schmidt, the collection debuted in New York to support global LGBTQ+ causes, turning rescued rams’ wool into a symbol of queer pride and inclusion.
See full article at Metro.co.uk
FINANCE MONTHLY – Whitney Wolfe Herd, once the world’s youngest self-made female billionaire, has seen her fortune fall from $1B to ~$500M after Bumble’s stock collapsed 95% since its 2021 IPO. The app’s valuation plunged from $9B to ~$400M as user growth slowed and rivals like Hinge gained traction. Wolfe Herd, who sold $125M of shares in 2019 and another $8.55M in 2025, has weathered the downturn with strategic cash-outs and a diversified portfolio. Now back as CEO, she’s steering Bumble toward recovery through cost-cutting, an AI-driven dating app based on attachment theory, and renewed focus on user quality. Bumble’s story, from breakout IPO to steep decline, underscores how fast tech glory can fade – and how savvy founders adapt to survive.
See full article at Finance Monthly
FINANCE COLOMBIA – Dr. Julia Meszaros, Associate Professor of Sociology at Texas A&M Commerce, has studied the premium international dating (PID) industry for over a decade, focusing on Ukraine, the Philippines, and Colombia. Her research explores gender roles, globalization, and motivations behind cross-border relationships.
Key points:
Overall, Meszaros frames the growth of the PID industry as a by-product of gender, economic, and cultural shifts in Western societies rather than exploitation or trafficking.
See full article at Finance Colombia
SMESTREET – Indian dating app QuackQuack hit 40M users in 2025, driven by rising intercity matches and renewed engagement from Tier 1–3 cities. User sign-ups rose 12% during October–November’s “cuffing season,” with 43% of surveyed daters preferring slower, long-term relationships. Growth was fueled by metro users returning online and migrants seeking partners from their hometowns. CEO Ravi Mittal credited the milestone to India’s shift toward more intentional, stable dating.
See full article at SMEStreet
NDTV – A study by the University of South Australia, published in Computers in Human Behaviour, found that women who use dating apps are more likely to consider or undergo cosmetic surgery than non-users. The research links this to the appearance-focused nature of dating apps, where profile pictures and selfies drive attention and validation. Similar to Instagram and Snapchat, these platforms heighten body image pressure, pushing some women toward cosmetic procedures such as fillers, anti-wrinkle injections, rhinoplasty, and liposuction.
LTR – Join us for an enlightening conversation with Dr. Justin Garcia, Executive Director of the Kinsey Institute and Chief Scientific Advisor for Match. Dr. Garcia shares his rich background in neuroscience, biomedical anthropology, and evolutionary biology, and discusses his work on the Singles in America report. The discussion dives deep into the changing landscape of dating and relationships, examining the impact of technology, cultural shifts, and the COVID-19 pandemic on contemporary dating behaviors. Learn about the intriguing trends of ‘slow love,’ the evolving expectations of singles, and the potential role of AI in shaping the future of dating.
[**See the video here on YouTube**]
The July LTR was kindly sponsored by Courtland Brooks
COMMERCIAL APPEAL – Match Group agreed to pay $14M and revise its practices to settle a 2019 FTC lawsuit alleging it misled users and made cancellations difficult. The FTC claimed Match falsely advertised a “six-month free guarantee,” suspended users who disputed charges, and complicated cancellation procedures. Under the settlement, Match must clearly disclose guarantee terms, stop penalizing users for billing disputes, and simplify subscription cancellations.
SCANX – Matrimony.com Limited reported weaker results for Q2 FY2026. Revenue fell slightly to $13M (₹1,146M) from (₹1,155M) a year earlier. Net profit dropped sharply to $0.88M (₹78M) from $1.5M (₹132M). By segment, Matchmaking Services generated $128M (₹11,354M) in revenue and $13M in profit, while Marriage Services & Others earned $1.2M (₹105M) but posted a $3.3M loss (₹291M). The company had 240K paid subscriptions with an average transaction value of $55.40 (₹4,914).
See full article at ScanX