Author: Sean Nolan

Posted on by

Startup Roundup – 22nd September

GDI is constantly on the lookout for new players in the online dating market, disruptive business models, and innovative technologies.

This Startup Roundup is presented in partnership with The Social Discovery Group, who are currently eager to connect with startups in the social discovery and online dating space.

If this is you, please get in touch with editorial@globaldatinginsights.com to find out more.

  1. noii – Meeting people by video dating: This Swiss dating platform organises video speed dating sessions, as well as hosting offline dating events.
  2. Humpday – The anti dating app: The dating app for people who hate dating apps. Humpday has removed swiping and is only active one day a week, so you can thrive in your life the other six. Say goodbye to swiping, and hello to meeting people IRL.
  3. Socially – Supercharge your social life: Make local social connections. Do more of the things you love. Build lasting friendships founded on the enjoyment of mutual interests.

In Case You Missed It! Here’s last week’s Startup Roundup:

  1. Datelink – Get Off the Apps: Datelink is a first-of-its-kind dating technology that allows people to carry their dating profiles in a ring or on a back-of-the-phone dot. Users can tap their ring or dot to another person’s phone and their dating profile gets shared automatically–no app is required.
  2. BeFake – Why be real when it’s fun to BeFake?: The first AI-augmented social network, it reduces the pressure it takes to create that perfect moment, allowing you to create hyperinteresting content using AI.
  3. Mila – Date New People: Mila is an AI matchmaker that suggests compatible people to one another and helps users discover new people.
Posted on by

DNA Romance Gets Channel 10 Feature

DNA Romance, the dating app that matches singles with compatible DNA, was recently featured on TV programme ‘The Project’ on Australia’s Channel 10. The feature explores problems with mainstream dating platforms and what DNA Romance is doing differently.

In an investigation into online dating culture, hosts on The Project interviewed DNA Romance’s Founder Dr Timothy Sexton on how his platform is looking to change how singles match and meet.

He explains that attraction is heavily influenced by our individual smell, something that DNA analysis can analyse and make predictions on. This forms the basis of DNA Romance’s matching algorithm.

You can watch the platform’s TV feature below.

Posted on by

Australian Minister Calls For Dating App Code of Practice

Michelle Rowland, Australia’s Minister for Communications, has called on online dating platforms to develop a voluntary code of practice to improve user safety. She stated that dating platforms would be in charge of drafting and adopting these new safety commitments. 

In a recent press conference, Minister Rowland shared that she has written to the most popular online dating platforms in Australia to encourage them to follow new safety commitments.

These commitments could potentially include further engagement with law enforcement, supporting at-risk users, improving safety policies, safety by design, child safety frameworks, greater transparency about harms, and interventions with perpetrators.

The Minister set the deadline for this new code of practice as 30th June 2024, saying that regulations and legislative measures may come if the deadline is not met.

This comes after a Roundtable held in January 2023 between government officials and online dating platforms. Minister Rowland also requested and received detailed information from dating platforms regarding their safety measures and the harms they identify.

This new call for a voluntary code of practice is the latest step in the Australian government’s ongoing mission to create a safer online environment for Australian singles.

The Minister shared that this new commitments should be crafted between the industry, the Australian eSafety commissioner, policing authorities, and the Australian sector for family, domestic, and sexual violence.

Minister Rowland shared that these new measures were made voluntary so as to not stifle innovation. She said the government wants “to have a graduated and staged approach to how regulatory intervention is done”, but that “if this does not deliver improved safety for Australian users, we will have no hesitation in taking this further”. 

You can read the Minister’s statement in full here. 

Posted on by

Swiss Dating App noii Acquires Matter

Swiss dating app noii has acquired the audio-first dating platform Matter. The new collaboration will help noii to enhance its matchmaking algorithms, delivering an improved dating experience.

Based in Zurich, noii was founded by Laura Matter (CEO), Thomas Kuschel (COO) and Vladislav Lisavcov (CTO). It revolves around video speed dating and has over 15,000 registered users in its home city.

noii recently announced that it has acquired Matter, which is an audio-first dating platform first founded in Los Angeles. Although they differ in their audio & visual elements, they share a similar focus on speed dating features. 

One of Matter’s key strengths is its AI-powered recommendation engine, developed by its ex-Apple machine learning engineer & CTO, Battushig Myanganbayar.

This ‘Fair Match’ AI engine uses innovative filtering techniques to group users by their app usage behavior, and understands engagement between different communities of users from one-on-one speed date data. 

This unique system allows for the platform to recognise users’ preferences and provide accurate recommendations to them, something that other superficial apps are not capable of doing.

noii looks to harness Matter’s experience in this field, allowing for “advanced data analysis and machine learning techniques”, ultimately enabling “more accurate and personalized match recommendations and better dates in the end”.

The European dating app recently closed its first financing round with 500,000 Swiss francs. You can find out more about noii on its website here. 

Posted on by

Tinder Sets University Swipe Challenge

Tinder has set a new challenge to get university campuses swiping in time for the new academic year. The American college or university with the highest amount of swiping activity will receive a free concert from rapper Saweetie.

The new competition, called Swipe Off™, challenges campuses across the nation to get swiping on the dating app. Campuses must be enrolled in the Tinder U programme in order to be eligible for the concert reward.

“Tinder is always working to match the vibrant energy of our college users. They form the core of our user base, and over the years, we’ve seen countless campus connections blossom into meaningful relationships,” says Stephanie Danzi, Senior Vice President of Global Marketing at Tinder.

“We created The Swipe Off challenge to feed into that energy and encourage them to unlock all the possibilities of the college experience that come from meeting new people”, Danzi continued.

The competition will run from the 12th of September to the 6th of October. 

“Whether they were a fling, a friend, or something more serious, the people I met at USC are what made my time there a blast. I’m excited to partner with Tinder in encouraging today’s college students to ‘tap in’ to the possibilities that come from meeting new people.” says Saweetie.

You can find out more about the challenge by reading the announcement here.

Posted on by

The GDI Podcast: SIZZL – A Cultural Shift for Dating App User Interactions

In this episode of The GDI Podcast, we’re delighted to be joined by Gillian Myhill and Phil Beesley, Co-Founders of SIZZL.

They tell Senior Reporter Sean Nolan about how the dating app represents a cultural shift in online dating, encouraging users to engage with the app on their own terms.

With no push notifications and matches that don’t expire, SIZZL is looking to make the user experince more convenient, casual, and stress-free.

The GDI Podcast is sponsored by RealMe. RealMe can provide users instant access to background information, helping more people make genuine connections online, and off.

To learn how they can integrate seamlessly into your app, log on to therealme.com/dating and request a demo today.

Posted on by

Plenty of Fish Shares Cringe Culture Insights

In the hyper-competitive world of dating, singles often worry that being themselves could be considered “cringe”. However a new study from Plenty of Fish has found that young people are embracing the cringe in order to find a meaningful relationship.

Plenty of Fish conducted a new study of single Gen Z and Millennial Americans, finding 74% agree that embracing their cringe will help them find their cringe counterpart.

The platform highlights that the younger generation is embracing authenticity, even at the risk of looking cringe in the eyes of society. 

47% of respondents consider themselves to be more cringe than cool, while 73% agree that being true to themselves is an important step in getting to know a potential partner. 

Seven in ten respondents said that they aren’t afraid to reveal things about themselves that might be considered cringe on a first date, with a similar number saying they’re open to matching with someone who is just as ‘cringey’ as they are on a dating app. 

“In a world where so many people feel pressure to present an ultra-manicured version of themselves, we applaud singles saying yes to being more real,“  said Eva Gallagher, Public Relations Manager at Plenty of Fish. 

“We’re all about encouraging people to show up as their true selves – especially when it comes to dating. Sometimes, we just need to get out of our own way, so let’s embrace the real us – the wonderful, awkward and sometimes cringey parts that make each of us unique”, Gallagher explained.

Behaviours that are traditionally seen to be ‘cringey’ – talking about fandoms, being upfront about dating intentions, and not playing hard to get – are now seen as cool by many young singles, Plenty of Fish shared.

Plenty of Fish is a platform within Match Group, focusing on low-pressure and laid-back approaches to dating. You can find the platform’s full insights on cringe culture here. 

Posted on by

flutrr Launches Dating Support Service

Indian dating app flutrr has launched a platform to help singles and couples form stronger relationships. Named flutrrHearts, this new service will see expert counsellors providing advice and guidance on the dating journey. 

The dating brand highlights that “relationship challenges are becoming more common” and that the modern dating landscape “seems to drive individuals apart while letting conflicts thrive”.

And now flutrrHearts is launching to combat this. “Seeking professional therapy for singles and couples can prove to be a transformative and essential step in resolving conflicts, fostering understanding, and strengthening the bond between partners”, it shared.

Interested users will receive their first 30 minute session for free, followed by 45 minutes follow up session or sessions worth INR 499 (USD $6.00)

flutrrHearts has shared the profiles of its counsellors on its website, highlighting that they have relevant qualifications, including licensed marriage and family therapists, psychologists, social workers, and certified relationship coaches.

It reassured users that “seeking counselling is not a sign of weakness but a testament to an individual’s commitment to emotional growth and paving the ground for a stronger relationship”.

You can find out more about flutrrHearts on its website here.