Shows
The GDI & Social Discovery PodcastMattr - the Dating App for Inclusivity, Authenticity, and Doing Things DifferentlyOn this episode of The GDI Podcast, we're delighted to welcome Jamie Johnston, CEO & Co-Founder of Mattr.
He explains how the platform is inclusive of neurodivergent individuals & those with mental health issues, sharing how Mattr's platform and brand allow every dater to truly be themselves.
Johnston also tells GDI's Senior Reporter Sean Nolan about the platform's fundraising journey, it's growth in London, and its next steps.2024-02-0928 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastLex - CEO Jennifer Lewis Talks 2024 Priorities & LGBTQ+ TrendsIn this episode of The GDI Podcast, we're delighted to be joined by Jennifer Lewis, CEO and Co-Founder of Lex.
She outlines her priorities in her new role as CEO, discussing the product innovations and geographic expansion coming soon to the platform.
Lewis also tells GDI's Senior Reporter Sean Nolan about the investment landscape for queer-led and female-led businesses, and the trends that are defining dating & social discovery in the LGBTQ+ community.2023-12-0824 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastSirf Coffee - Curated Dating for the Global IndianOn this episode of The GDI Podcast, we're delighted to be joined by Sunil Hiranandani, Founder of Sirf Coffee.
Sunil discusses how he helps bring together Indian singles around the world, and the changing trends among daters looking for meaningful relationships.
He also tells GDI's Senior Reporter Sean Nolan how online dating platforms can help the industry to succeed in the long term.2023-11-2212 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastFeeld - Ana Kirova Talks Rebrand & Future TrendsOn this episode of The GDI Podcast, Ana Kirova, the CEO of Feeld, tells us about the platform's major rebranding and her perspective on future dating trends.
Speaking with GDI's Senior Reporter, Sean Nolan, the Feeld CEO explains how the platform's philosophy and culture enable users to undergo a personal journey on the app.
She also highlights what online dating industry leaders should keep in mind moving forward, identifying the changing nature of dating apps and the key ingredients to create a successful brand.2023-11-1416 minThe GDI & Social Discovery Podcastnoii - Bringing Video Authenticity and an Exciting AcquisitionIn this episode of The GDI Podcast, we're delighted to be joined by Laura Matter, CEO and Co-Founder of noii. She explains how the Swiss platform organises video speed dates for singles.
She also shares with GDI's Senior Reporter Sean Nolan, how and why the company acquired Matter, a US-based dating app.
Laura discusses consumer behaviour in Switzerland, noii's strategy with TikTok and marketing, as well as its next steps for continued expansion.2023-10-0425 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastVLVT - Enhancing Relationship Health & Emotional IQOn this episode of The GDI Podcast we’re delighted to be joined by Connie Perl, Founder & CEO of VLVT.
She joins GDI’s Senior Reporter Sean Nolan to discuss how the platform brings people together and nourishes relationship health.
Connie also shares the background for understanding emotional IQ and the importance of high-quality relationships.2023-08-0219 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastThe Meetery - Creating Offline Connections for Busy MillenialsOn this episode of The GDI Podcast we’re delighted to be joined by Bayleigh Frickey and Stephanie Hilton, Co-Founders of The Meetery.
They join GDI’s Senior Reporter Sean Nolan to discuss how the platform is getting busy millenials off their phones and onto first dates in an efficient way.
Stephanie and Bayleigh also discuss the experience faced by women when online dating, and how this shaped the safety features built into The Meetery.2023-07-2714 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastAlgoAI Tech - The Future of AI in DatingOn this episode of The GDI Podcast we’re delighted to be joined by Alexa Eden, Humane Technologist at AlgoAI Tech.
She joins GDI’s Senior Reporter Sean Nolan to discuss AlgoAI's work in artifical intelligence and online dating, including the most valuable use cases for the technology.
Eden also shares how AI can be developed with a human-first strategy, and what the future holds for innovation and technology.2023-07-0519 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastUrSafe - Creating Safer Offline Dating ExperiencesOn this episode of The GDI Podcast, we’re delighted to be joined by Anthony Oyogoa, CEO and Co-Founder of UrSafe, and Courtney Kovacevich, Consultant at UrSafe.
They join GDI’s Senior Reporter Sean Nolan to discuss UrSafe’s newly launched LGBTQ+ Safe Spaces tool. This innovative feature helps individuals find LGBTQ+ safe spaces in emergencies or SOS situations.
The feature works across all but three countries in the world, guiding LGBTQ+ users to safe shelters and locations, as well as connecting them with emergency services and law enforcement agencies.
Anthony and Courtney also share how UrSafe is helping singles have s...2023-06-2115 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastArcher - Match Group's New Gay Dating AppOn this episode of The GDI Podcast we're delighted to be joined by Michael Kaye, Director of Brand Marketing and Communications at Archer.
He joins GDI's Senior Reporter Sean Nolan to discuss Match Group's latest dating app: Archer. This new platform serves gay, bisexual, and queer men in a refreshing and innovative way.
Kaye also shares how Archer listens to user feedback, fosters a community-first approach, and provides sexual health resources.2023-06-1323 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastMonogamish - Meaningful Non-Monogamy in AustraliaOn this episode of The GDI Podcast we're delighted to be joined by Bill Schwab, Founder of Monogamish.
He joins GDI's Senior Reporter Sean Nolan to discuss how the platform is helping facilitate non-monogamous relationships and the unique features that cater to this commnity.
Schwab also shares how Australia's diverse culture makes it a suitable location for a dating app that explores non-traditional relationships.2023-06-0712 minThe GDI & Social Discovery Podcastflutrr - Multilingual Inclusivity & Protecting WomenAs part of our Trust & Safety Month 2023, we are delighted to be joined on The GDI Podcast by Kaushik Banerjee, Co-Founder & CEO and Anirban Banerjee, Co-Founder & CMO, at flutrr.
They join GDI's Senior Reporter Sean Nolan to discuss how flutrr is empowering young singles in India's rural areas to date with confidence and become included in the online dating world.
They also explain how flutrr has listened to feedback from female users to create innovative safety features that protect their privacy and reduce the online harassment they may face.2023-05-2438 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastRealMe - Creating Online Dating's Safety BlanketAs part of our Trust & Safety Month 2023, we are delighted to be joined on The GDI Podcast by David Wolfe, Chief Executive Officer, and Neil Davis, Chief Business Officer at RealMe.
They join GDI's Senior Reporter Sean Nolan to discuss how improving safety measures will extend the longevity of online dating businesses.
They also explain how a combination of different safety solutions can create a 'safety blanket' that will provide comprehensive and accessible protection to users.2023-05-1736 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastStream - How to Find and Resolve Harmful ContentAs part of our Trust & Safety Month 2023, we are delighted to be joined on The GDI Podcast by Adnan Al-Khatib, Principal Product Manager - Moderation at Stream.
Adnan joins GDI's Senior Reporter Sean Nolan to discuss how dating apps can ensure users have positive experiences through the use of next generation moderation tools.
He also explains how generative AI systems can pose risks to online dating, and how understanding the intent behind content could help address this.
Safety in dating is paramount, so choosing an in-app messaging solution for your dating app focused on safety and security allows your users...2023-05-1026 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastFateDate - Creating Safer IRL DatesIn the first GDI Podcast of our Trust & Safety Month 2023, we are delighted to be joined by Liam Gibson, Founder of FateDate.
Liam joins GDI's Senior Reporter Sean Nolan to discuss how dating app dangers motivated him to create a platform where singles can go on safer IRL dates.
He also explains how the FateDate platform minimises dating awkwardness, introducing innovative features to handle the second date and avoid drama over who picks up the bill.2023-05-0211 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastUpward - Connecting Christian CommunitiesIn this episode of the GDI Podcast, we're delighted to be joined by Matthew Roberts, Director of Brand & Marketing at Upward.
Matthew and GDI's Senior Reporter, Sean Nolan, discuss how the Match Group platform is helping Gen Z and Millenial Christians to find new connections.
They also explore how dating platforms can use their marketing and social media strategies to create community-focused content.2023-04-1918 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastNine - Solving Asia's Dating ProblemsIn this episode of the GDI Podcast, we're delighted to be joined by Miao Zhang, Founder and CEO of Nine.
Miao and GDI's Senior Reporter, Sean Nolan, discuss how Nine is helping young singles in Asia to find meaningful and committed relationships.
They also explore the differences between dating cultures in Asia and North America, and how this informed the features on Nine.2023-04-1130 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastChapter 2 - The Dating App Built by Widows, for Widows and WidowersIn this episode of the GDI Podcast, we're delighted to be joined by Nicky Wake, Founder of Chapter 2.
Nicky and GDI's Senior Reporter, Sean Nolan, discuss why there was a need for Chapter 2 within the widow & widower support infrastructure.
They also discuss the development of Chapter 2 as a startup, its live events, upcoming expansion, and potential spin-off platforms.2023-04-0433 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastSmitten - Bringing Fun to Nordic DatingIn this episode of the GDI Podcast, we're delighted to be joined by David Simonarson, CEO & Co-Founder of Smitten.
David and GDI's Senior Reporter, Sean Nolan, discuss the origins of Smitten, how it makes the dating journey more fun, and why the dating app adopted a new search feature.
David and Sean also discuss dating culture in the Nordic region, and how Smitten is planning to expand internationally in 2023.2023-03-2124 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastChispa - The Link Between Dating and AdvocacyIn this episode of the GDI Podcast, we're delighted to be joined by Julia Estacolchic, Head of Marketing & Brand at Chispa.
Julia and GDI's Senior Reporter, Sean Nolan, discuss why Chispa decided to create an advocacy council, and how this group will help inform the platform's work with the Latin American community.
Julia and Sean also explore the best ways for organisations to market themselves to this large, diverse, and unique community.2023-03-1426 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastDesperate Dating - The Platform For Super Keen SinglesIn this episode of the GDI Podcast, we're delighted to be joined by David Minns, Founder of Desperate Dating.
David and GDI's Senior Reporter, Sean Nolan, discuss why being super keen isn't such a bad thing, and what makes desperate singles different.
As the founder of multiple niche dating platforms, David also shares his insights on how to foster growth among these communities.2023-03-0717 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastToDate - Putting People on Dates TodayIn this episode of the GDI Podcast, we're delighted to be joined by Nick Purewal and Mani Kular, co-founders of ToDate.
They discuss the value that comes from real-life dating experiences, and how the ToDate platform facilitates them seamlessly.
They also tell Sean Nolan, GDI's Senior Reporter, how the platform prioritises user safety through verification tools.2023-02-2816 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastChristiana Maxion - The Anti-Dating App Coming SoonIn this episode of the GDI Podcast, we're delighted to be joined by Christiana Maxion, The Dubai Matchmaker.
Christiana shares her plans to create an 'anti-dating app' and what this new platform will bring to communities around the world.
She also tells Sean Nolan, GDI's Senior Reporter, what makes Dubai a unique hub for love.2023-02-2220 min
The GDI & Social Discovery PodcastDr. Riki Thompson - An Academic Perspective on the Online Dating IndustryIn this episode of The GDI Podcast, we're delighted to be joined by Dr. Riki Thompson, Associate Professor of Writing Studies & Digital Rhetoric at the University of Washington Tacoma.
Within this podcast, Dr. Thompson shares with Sean Nolan, Senior Reporter at Global Dating Insights, what her research with online dating users has uncovered. Her insights highlight how online dating platforms can create more welcoming and effective services.
They also discuss the coverage of Whitney Wolfe Herd, CEO of Bumble, and Renate Nyborg, former CEO of Tinder, and what it means for women in tech.2022-11-1636 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastMelanin Matchmaker - A Dating App To Support Black CommunitiesIn this episode of The GDI Podcast, we're delighted to be joined by Dayo Israel, CEO and Founder of Melanin Matchmaker. Melanin Matchmaker is a dating platform serving Black communities.
Within this podcast, Sean Nolan, Senior Reporter at Global Dating Insights, discusses with Dayo the unique features that make Melanin Matchmaker suited to helping Black singles find love.
They also discuss how the dating app can have a wider positive effect on the Black community, and why it has recently rebranded.2022-11-0815 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastDateability - Making the Search for Love More AccessibleIn this episode of The GDI Podcast, we're delighted to be joined by Alexa and Jacqueline Child, co-founders of Dateability. Dateability is a dating platform serving the disabled and chronically ill communities.
Within this podcast, Sean Nolan, Senior Reporter at Global Dating Insights, discusses with Jacqueline and Alexa how dating platforms can become more accessible.
They also discuss how personal experiences led to Dateability's creation, and how the sisters plan to have the app grow in the future.2022-11-0418 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastMuzz - Exploring Legal Challenges and New FeaturesIn this episode of The GDI Podcast, we're delighted to be joined by Shahzad Younas, Founder and CEO of Muzz.
Within this podcast, Sean Nolan, Senior Reporter at Global Dating Insights, and Shahzad discuss Muzz's recent legal activity and what the dating app wants to get out of the ongoing court case its involved in.
Sean and Shahzad also discuss how Muzz became the world's largest Muslim dating & marriage platform, its exciting new features, and what users can look out for moving forward.2022-10-1218 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastWooPlus - How Plus Size Dating Went ViralIn this episode of The GDI Podcast, we're delighted to be joined by Summer Liao, Public Relations Manager and Marketing Specialist at WooPlus.
Within this podcast, Sean Nolan, Senior Reporter at Global Dating Insights, and Summer discuss the unexpected viral TikTok that led to WooPlus becoming highly-downloaded in Tunisia.
Sean and Summer also discuss how to create accepting online communities where plus size people can find love and avoid body shaming. They also discuss innovative features coming to WooPlus and current trends in dating2022-10-0722 min
The GDI & Social Discovery PodcastAndWeMet - Forming Modern, Meaningful Relationships In IndiaIn this episode of The GDI Podcast, we’re delighted to be joined by Shalini Singh, founder of AndWeMet.
Within this podcast, Luke Smith, editor of Global Dating Insights, and Shalini discuss the rise in the trend for serious modern dating, the natural maturity of humans as older dating occurs, and the controversy surrounding modern relations in India
Luke and Shalini also discuss the changing acceptance of ‘new love’ in modern dating. They also discuss the effect that COVID-19 has had on this trend, and the next steps for AndWeMet.2022-09-1615 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastGleeden - The Rise of Extra-Marital Affairs Post-COVIDIn this episode of The GDI Podcast, we're delighted to be joined by Sybil Shiddel, country manager for India for Gleeden, the extra-marital dating platform.
Within this podcast, Luke Smith, editor of Global Dating Insights, and Sybil discuss the rise in the trend for extra-marital dating, the natural curiosity and polyamory of humans, and the controversy surrounding extra-marital affairs.
Luke and Sybil also discuss the changing acceptance of 'new love' in modern dating, including extra-marital affairs, polyamory, and open relationships. They also discuss the effect that COVID-19 has had on this trend, and the next steps for Gleeden.2022-09-0730 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastQuackQuack - Engaging A Community In Indian DatingIn this episode of The GDI Podcast, we’re delighted to be joined by Ravi Mittal, CEO and founder of QuackQuack.
Within this podcast, Luke Smith, editor of Global Dating Insights, and Ravi discuss the biggest trends in Indian dating, the impact of surveys on a dating community, and the future of QuackQuack.
Finally, Luke and Ravi discuss the COVID-19 pandemic, and how it’s changed the views of singles across the globe.2022-08-3115 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastMatch: The Truth Of Love Bombing With Rachel De Alto, Match's Chief Dating ExpertIn this episode of The GDI Podcast, we’re delighted to be joined by Rachel De Alto, Chief Dating Expert at Match.
Within this podcast, Luke Smith, editor of Global Dating Insights, and Rachel discuss the newest trend on the dating market - love bombing. They also talk about what singles should look out for to avoid love bombing, what the consequences are, and how you can tell if you're being 'bombed'.
Finally, Luke and Rachel discuss the COVID-19 pandemic, and how it’s changed the views of singles across the globe.2022-08-2424 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastUtopia Analytics - Machine Learning, Automation, and the Future of DatingIn this episode of the GDI podcast, we're delighted to be joined by Mari-Sanna Paukerri, CEO and co-founder of Utopia Analytics.
Within this episode, we discuss the future of machine learning and automation in online dating, and how this will affect the way we make matches. We also talk about audience retention and how this will be aided by technological advancements.
Finally, we talk about concept vs. reality, and where we draw the ethical line on what we automate, what we monitor, and how much we involve ourselves in user's content.2022-08-0316 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastThe GDI Podcast: Offline Dating, Online, With Inner CircleIn this episode, Luke is joined by David Vermeulen, CEO and Founder of Inner Circle, and Masha Kodden, Managing Director of Inner Circle. Luke, David, and Masha investigate the return to in-person and offline dating post-COVID through the Inner Circle platform, how the pandemic has changed the attitude of singles towards meeting a new partner, and what platforms are doing to reach new communities globally.
They also look at what’s next for Inner Circle, and how it plans to continue fostering effective relationships as one of the leading global dating platforms.2022-07-2625 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastVegan and vegetarian dating in 2022 with VegglyToday's episode of the GDI Podcast sees us join Veggly, the leading vegan and vegetarian dating platform. We're joined by their founder Alex Felipelli, to talk about how vegan and vegetarian dating has changed over the recent months and years, what's next for the platform, and how the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the industry.2022-02-0427 min
The GDI & Social Discovery PodcastA Changing Of The Guard - Introducing The New GDI EditorA very special episode of The GDI Podcast, introducing Luke Smith as the new editor of Global Dating Insights. In this episode we discuss what's next for our departing editor, Dom Whitlock, what's next for the dating industry in 2022, and why the next twelve months will be the biggest yet for GDI.
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 http://therealme.com/dating and request a demo today.2021-11-2420 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastVR Platform ‘Planet Theta’ Represents The Future Of DatingOver the past two years, the popularity of virtual and video dating has grown exponentially, with the implication of the COVID-19 as the main catalyst.
While singles were previously unsure about having video calls with an almost complete stranger, they have become an integral part of the dating journey. Experts now say that VR and AR will be the next step in streamlining the process.
Planet Theta hopes to be the first VR dating platform and is currently in the middle of its beta testing phase. Produced by FireFlare Games, an independent VR development studio, Planet Theta is a whole...2021-11-0321 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastThe Sauce Makes 'Dating Less Dry' With Video ProfilesThe Sauce is a UK-based dating app that only allows singles to add video clips to their profiles, helping them express themselves and find better quality matches.
Originally named ‘Qemistry’, The Sauce was officially launched in London earlier this year. It’s part of a wider video revolution in the online dating industry, with platforms across the scene experimenting with video in one form or another.
While the app is still in its early stages, the founding team are very pleased with its early traction and growth.
They have just started their first targeted marketing campaign in London, erecting colourful billbo...2021-10-2720 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastDiversity, Equity & Inclusion, In Association With Women In DatingToday’s special episode of The GDI Podcast features three female leaders from the online dating and social networking spaces. They came together to discuss the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion within, and how their companies are offering equal opportunities to everyone.
We were joined by Alexis Ferraro, Vice President of Brand and Communications with Match Affinity, Ana Kirova, the new CEO of Feeld, and Dayo Akinrinade, the founder and CEO of Africlick.
While online dating is one of the more progressive arms of the wider technology sector, there is still a lot more that needs to be done to...2021-10-0546 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastAsia Innovations Group CEO Talks Virtual Dating and Targeting Emerging MarketsAsia Innovations Group (AIG) was formed in 2013 by a team of technology experts from major companies including Google and Tencent.
It operates a quality portfolio of dating, social and entertainment products designed to connect people across the world, with an added focus on under-served, emerging markets. Company data shows it serves over 350 million users worldwide.
One of the dating apps that AIG currently runs is called Lamour and is regularly among the top 10 most downloaded dating apps in the world, despite its limited impact in Western markets. AIG also owns Wink and FancyU as well.
Andy Tian is AIG’s CE...2021-09-0820 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastGerman Dating Agency LemonSwan Looks After ‘What Women Want’LemonSwan is an early stage dating and matchmaking agency based in Germany, designed to help singles find serious, long-term relationships.
It was founded by Arne Kahlke, a former CEO of Parship, who has since taken a step back from day-to-day operation. That responsibility has now fallen to Managing Directors CEO Sabine Schöler, COO Paul Uhlig and CFO Britta Künstler.
LemonSwan has a specific focus on looking after its female users. The tagline, ‘What Women Want’, echoes its dedication to facilitating committed relationships, rather than casual hookups.
The brand now has over 380,000 members and closed a seven-figure funding round last y...2021-08-2513 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastPOM Connects Singles Using Their Favourite Songs and ArtistsPOM is a brand new dating app from London that uses music streaming data to match singles with a strong emotional compatibility.
Standing for ‘The Power Of Music’, POM doesn’t simply connect users who have similar music tastes. It instead learns what feelings their favourite artists, songs and albums evoke, to connect them with people who compliment their unique emotional profile.
Co-founder and CEO Vihan Patel came up with the idea while hosting themed club nights at university. He noticed how different genres of music attracted different types of people and altered the way they interacted with each other.
POM wi...2021-08-1118 min
The GDI & Social Discovery PodcastFeeld’s New CEO Ana Kirova Talks Sex Positivity and PolyamoryWhile the stigma around online dating has receded substantially over the past few years, there is still a lot of negative connotations associated with sex positive and polyamorous platforms.
Feeld is one of the leading offerings in this category, providing a safe space for people to explore their identity, learn more about themselves and connect with similarly open-minded individuals and couples.
Ana Kirova was one of the main inspirations for the app, after developing feelings for a woman while being in a serious relationship with Feeld’s eventual founder Dimo Trifonov. She officially joined the team in 2016, two years after it...2021-08-0426 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastMillionaire Dating App Luxy’s New Automatic Matching AlgorithmLuxy is colloquially known as a dating platform for millionaires, due to its strict verification process and desire to attract only the highest-quality singles. However, these values have seen the platform often come under scrutiny from several media publications that label it as “elitist”.
These criticisms have not prevented Luxy from becoming a mainstay in the online dating industry. It’s been downloaded millions of times since 2014 and is one of the most well-known names in the selective dating niche.
The team also holds a strong stand against sugar dating of all kinds and immediately bans any users that appear to be...2021-07-2818 min
The GDI & Social Discovery PodcastRelationship App Coupleness Inspires Communication Between PartnersCoupleness is a Swedish startup relationship platform that helps existing couples invest in their relationship and improve the way they communicate with each other.
Long-term relationships can often lose their way if the couple fail to maintain open and honest communication. Coupleness provides several simple activities and features to set aside just a few minutes of dedicated connection every day.
This includes a shared micro-journal to inspire conversations about the key aspects and emotions from the day. While Coupleness is completely app-based, it encourages its users to converse face-to-face and seeks to only serve as a supportive tool for strong...2021-07-0117 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastRelationship App Coupleness Inspires Communication Between PartnersRelationship App Coupleness Inspires Communication Between Partners
Coupleness is a Swedish startup relationship platform that helps existing couples invest in their relationship and improve the way they communicate with each other.
Long-term relationships can often lose their way if the couple fail to maintain open and honest communication. Coupleness provides several simple activities and features to set aside just a few minutes of dedicated connection every day.
This includes a shared micro-journal to inspire conversations about the key aspects and emotions from the day. While Coupleness is completely app-based, it encourages its users to converse face-to-face and seeks to only...2021-06-2919 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastCitySwoon Begins Hosting Offline Dating Events Again After COVID-19A few years ago, CitySwoon started to develop its own technology to host speed dating and singles events in a virtual capacity. This decision turned out to be more than beneficial in March 2020, when the company was forced to cancel all of its offline gatherings.
CitySwoon has always offered its users a hybrid product, with a traditional online dating platform alongside dedicated events to get the community meeting the old fashioned way. It was first founded in Australia and has since expanded to North America before entering London during the pandemic.
With vaccine rollouts advancing positively around the world, the...2021-06-2329 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastFemale Founders Discuss How They’ve Transformed The Dating Industry, Sponsored by RealMe!The GDI Podcast: Female Founders Discuss How They’ve Transformed The Dating Industry, Sponsored by RealMe!
Like the majority of technology industries, the online dating industry is largely dominated by male executives, professionals and investors. However, there has been a significant number of female founders who overcame all the challenges and created popular products to ensure women feel empowered and secure when dating. While these success stories are more prevalent than other similar sectors, there is still work to be done to create and maintain a level playing field.
In partnership with RealMe, Global Dating Insights invited three inspirational female fo...2021-06-0146 min
The GDI & Social Discovery PodcastSo Syncd’s Sister Founders Discuss Personality Dating and Funding RoundSo Syncd is a London-based startup dating app that matches singles using the renowned ‘Myers-Briggs’ personality types. New members take a five-minute questionnaire to find out which personality category they fall into, out of a possible 16.
The app’s algorithm then creates matches based on their results to forge stronger connections that could turn into something serious. Company data suggests that a match is seven times more likely to turn into a conversation compared to other popular platforms.
It was founded by sisters Jessica and Louella Alderson after the former took a year off from her old job at an invest...2021-05-0522 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastIndustry Experts Discuss Survey Results and Online Dating User SafetyThis special episode of The GDI Podcast welcomes three expert guests to talk about two of the biggest issues in the online dating industry: user safety and privacy.
As the world ground to a halt and everyone was forced to use mobile devices as their only means of communication, the number of singles turning to online dating platforms increased rapidly. They used them to pass the time, go on virtual dates and even talk with people on the other side of the world.
This, in turn, presented an opportunity for romance scammers to target more victims than ever before. However...2021-04-2752 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastThe Key Points From ExoClick’s Ultimate Guide to DatingExoClick is a leading online traffic network that helps advertisers and publishers to convert and monetize their content. It has a particularly large footprint in the online dating industry, sending billions of impressions to dating brands and their affiliates.
To support this, the team recently produced ‘The Ultimate Guide to Dating’, a comprehensive document that is full of business intelligence stats, optimisation techniques, creative ideas and valuable tips from a number of experts.
The guide is completely free to download and can help everyone from executives at established dating companies, to aspiring entrepreneurs working on their first startups.
It covers each...2021-04-2219 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastMatch Group VP Discusses ‘Upward’, The New Dating App For ChristiansWhile the majority of Match Group’s mainstream media attention goes to its biggest brands in Tinder, Hinge and Match, the umbrella company also offers a variety of more focused apps targeted at specific demographics.
The Affinity team has worked to develop several popular platforms in recent years, including BLK for Black singles and Chispa for the Latino community.
Its most recent venture is Upward, a brand new dating app for Christians to find a long-term relationship. Religious dating platforms have continued to grow in popularity as the online dating industry works to shake its outdated hookup stigma.
They are no...2021-04-1318 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastSALT is the Dating App Helping Christians Find Godly RelationshipsSALT is a Christian dating app that uses modern technology to help singles find a long-term relationship with someone who shares their faith.
It was inspired by the variety of already available religious dating websites, but the founders identified a gap in the market for an app-based platform for the Millennial and Gen Z generations. However, it remains of the utmost importance that SALT adheres to traditional Christian values and teachings.
SALT is now available in the UK and Australia, with aims for more global expansions in the near future. Daters are using it to meet more people on their...2021-03-3025 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastFormer Plenty Of Fish VP Launches Snack, The Dating App Inspired By TikTokKim Kaplan was one of the very first employees at Plenty Of Fish in 2009. Over the next ten years she helped turn the dating platform into the success that it is today, a place for millions of young adults to find a relationship.
She has recently started working on creating her own dating app, something she only decided to pursue after encouragement from her friends and advisors.
Snack was born, a cross Tinder and TikTok for Gen Zers to meet new people. There’s no pictures or bios on the app, instead profiles are made up of short video clips th...2021-03-2317 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastSpark Networks VP of Marketing Explains How Pandemic Affected Senior DatersSpark Networks is one of the online dating industry’s biggest publicly-traded companies and it specialises in serious platforms that are committed to forming long-term relationships.
Along with mainstream offerings like Zoosk, and services for religious users like Christian Mingle and Jdate, the Berlin-based company also has a strong focus on older daters. Silver Singles is targeted at over 50s who are looking for romance in the latter stages of their life.
With COVID-19 vaccination programmes around the world offering protection to the older generation first, the dating sector will be watching closely to see how their habits change over th...2021-03-0916 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastFormer Raya Engineer Launches Kippo, The Dating App For GamersDavid Park spent two years as a member of Raya’s early engineering team and helped the small outfit create one of the industry’s most exclusive platforms.
Dubbed by many as the ‘Tinder For Celebrities’, Raya is incredibly secretive about who is in the community and users can receive bans just for trying to take screenshots. There is also a lot of mystery about how the app actually operates and it wasn’t until June 2018, three years after its initial launch, that Daniel Gendelman revealed himself to be the founder.
Before talking us through his latest venture, David was kind enoug...2021-03-0217 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastJigsaw CEO Discusses Funding Round and Future International ExpansionJigsaw was created by two university friends back in 2016 who were fed up with the dating platforms available to them at the time. This is a story that is behind a lot of the new apps on the market, but Jigsaw’s USP of messages before photos has remained popular with its members.
Now anti-superical dating is one of the industry’s hottest trends, with some commentators saying it’s evidence of an evolution to help people into more serious, long-term relationships.
Based in the UK, Jigsaw superimposes a colourful puzzle over users’ faces with pieces only being removed as they tal...2021-02-2318 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastElate Tackles Ghosting by Encouraging Accountability and HonestyElate is a new startup that is designed for the slow dating trend. Singles are only allowed to talk to three different people at any given time, which prevents low quality conversations from continuing on unnecessarily.
It also markets itself as an ‘anti-ghosting’ platform because in order to start talking to a new match, the users must first end an existing one. The app then automatically sends a notification to the rejected person so they don’t waste their time waiting for a response.
However, Elate is so much more than that. It focuses on promoting accountability, and users give honest...2021-02-1616 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastLOVOO’s New CEO on First Few Months and Future GoalsLOVOO is The Meet Group’s leading subsidiary in Europe and, like the rest of the portfolio, offers members a hybrid dating and live streaming experience.
The company reinvigorated its executive committee in November, after co-founders Florian Braunschweig and Tobias Börner stepped down from their positions to pursue new challenges.
Anna Maria Wanninger was promoted to CEO and now leads a more youthful board with a large focus on developing for the future. She spent the two years prior in community management roles so already has a deep understanding of what LOVOO users want.
Throughout the pandemic the activity on...2021-02-0920 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastIsodate Founder Discusses New Virtual Speed Dating PlatformIsodate is a speed dating platform that allows singles to replicate the excitement of meeting new people in an organic way from the comfort and safety of their home. It was launched in March at the beginning of the pandemic when the virtual dating trend was just about to take off.
Participants can sign up for one of the multiple events every day for the opportunity to meet up to 15 other people in just one hour. Each event is catered to a specific demographic, whether that’s based on singles in the same city, those practice the same religion, or fo...2021-02-0330 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastCobble is the Genre-Defining App Helping Couples Find New Date LocationsCobble is creating its own space in the online dating industry. The app works for friends, first time matches and long-term relationships alike, and helps couples find unique date venues in their local area.
It borrows the swipe technology from traditional mainstream dating apps and suggests numerous ideas to choose from. If both parties swipe right they make a match, and are then directed to book a time and date.
Founder Jordan Scott created Cobble as an extension of her editorial website ‘idk tonight’, which was launched in 2017 and showcases the best places for dates in New York City.
After a su...2020-12-0117 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastThe Round CEO Fights Endless Swiping With 10-Minute Dating AppIt may not seem like 2020 would be the best year to launch a dating app that aims to get people meeting face-to-face as soon as possible. However, the team behind The Round confronted the challenge head on and conducted the first release in Austin earlier this year.
The Round aims to combat dating fatigue by getting users into a match and organising a date in less than 10 minutes. It also wants singles to remain excited about dating and spend more time connecting with people, rather than endlessly swiping and engaging in repetitive messaging cycles.
With social distancing measures in place...2020-11-2524 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastExploring Inner Circle’s Rebrand With Its First Chief Marketing OfficerInner Circle appointed Sanneke Boesveldt as its first ever Chief Marketing Officer in February. It came at a time when the dating app was expanding its marketing, communications and PR departments to streamline its overall brand message.
The first major impact was contributing to the company’s complete rebrand, which included a new name, logo and promotional tagline.
Moving forward, all of Inner Circle’s marketing efforts will be focused around the ‘Meet Your Match’ catchphrase, encouraging serious daters to take the necessary steps towards finding a partner. Its most recent campaign banned users from sending single-word messages, such as ‘Hi’ or ‘He...2020-10-2117 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastPositive Plus One Helps HIV Singles Feel More Comfortable When DatingIt’s often difficult to navigate the world of online dating for singles who are suffering from HIV, for example knowing when is the best time to reveal their condition to their matches.
Christian Mercer found this out when a close friend confided in him about the issues he was facing. Therefore, he set out to develop a brand new dating and social app so everyone can be open and upfront from the very beginning of a connection.
Positive Plus One was first launched in July and is working with a number of sexual health charities to ensure users are fu...2020-10-0619 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastFTI Consulting and RealMe Research Dating’s ‘New Normal’FTI Consulting and RealMe Research Dating’s ‘New Normal’ by The GDI & Social Discovery Podcast2020-09-3021 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastTalking With the New Management Team of ParshipMeet GroupAt the beginning of the month, ProSiebenSat.1 Media officially completed its takeover of The Meet Group, in a deal which valued the dating and live streaming outfit at $500 million.
The German broadcaster merged the company with Parship Group, its online dating arm that already housed Parship, eharmony and ElitePartner. In turn, a brand new umbrella was formed called ParshipMeet Group, which will look after the whole dating portfolio moving forward.
On this episode of The GDI Podcast, we talk to CEO of ParshipMeet Group Tim Schiffers, as well as Geoff Cook, who is assuming the General Manager of Video role...2020-09-2231 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastHILY and TAIMI Co-founder Discusses Exponential GrowthHILY and TAIMI are two products that have taken the online dating industry by storm, and have significantly grown in popularity since they were both released at the beginning of 2017.
Short for ‘Hey, I Like You’, HILY is a mainstream dating app that attributes its growth to an intelligent matching algorithm that prioritises compatibility ahead of any other factor.
On the other hand, TAIMI has since evolved into a social community for the entire LGBTQ community. It offers a safe space for individuals to express themselves, view relevant content, as well as connecting and dating.
Co-founder and Chief Product Officer Jake...2020-09-0116 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastFind Out More About Dating Group’s $50 Million CVC FundAt the beginning of March, Dating Group announced a brand new $50 million corporate VC fund to invest in some of the most promising startups.
The online dating arm of Social Discovery Ventures currently operates around 15 platforms and is looking to expand its reach in the industry.
Its popular subsidiaries include the flagship Dating.com, Dil Mil and the most recent investment S’More
Bill Alena has been working in the sector since 2007 and most recently acted as the The Meet Group’s Chief Revenue Officer. He joined Dating Group not long after the fund was announced as the new Managing Part...2020-08-1214 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastCo-founder Explains How UrSafe Keeps Daters Safe Once They Move OfflineUrSafe is a personal safety app that can give daters and their families peace of mind when they’re out meeting someone for the first time.
It’s unique arsenal of features, such as fake phone calls, hands-free SOS alerts and live GPS trackers, can help people quickly leave a bad date or call for help if they feel threatened.
The app was co-founded by Dr. Anthony Oyogoa, who saw the need for a product because more and more people are meeting strangers. This doesn’t just include dating, but expands to other areas like ride-sharing and food delivery.
UrSafe announ...2020-08-0418 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastAdam4Adam’s COO Discusses Campaign Combating Sexual RacismAdam4Adam was first launched in 2003, making it one of the oldest LGBTQ dating services in the industry.
It is also proud of its diversity, as company data shows more than half of the members are non-white. Because of this, Adam4Adam is helping to combat sexual racism, an issue which is prevalent within the LGBTQ dating community.
Several gay dating apps joined together at the beginning of Pride Month to launch a campaign to make the space more positive and friendly.
‘NiceAF’ encouraged users from Adam4Adam, Grindr, Perry Street Software, POZ Personal and DaddyHunt to post videos talking abou...2020-07-2811 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastRealMe’s Head of Dating Romance Fraud ProtectionThis week’s episode of The GDI Podcast features a conversation with Neil Davis, the Head of Dating at RealMe.
As the sponsor of The GDI Podcast, RealMe is committed to helping the online dating industry become a safer and more trustworthy place. It was created to answer the need for
consumer safety by addressing the growing issues of fraud, scams and abuse.
The risks can be much worse than just losing money, and the ongoing issues erode trust in the services that people love.
The RealMe technology and data platform helps make dating services more trusted through identity verification an...2020-07-2118 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastDating Entrepreneur David Minns Discusses Portfolio of Niche ProductsThe online dating space is becoming more and more saturated with every new product release and entrepreneurs need to be increasingly innovative in order to stand out.
David Minns is an industry expert who specialises in exploiting untapped areas of the market to create and launch a wide variety of niche apps.
Some of his most recent releases include Butterfly for the transgender community and Joystick for video gamers.
He also gained international media attention earlier this year when he launched Dinky One and Big One, two apps for men with below-average and above-average penis sizes. The controversial subject matter...2020-07-1424 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastLearning More About the New HubStars and Dig PartnershipAt the end of June, HubStars announced that Dig would be its first new partner as a result of the ‘Million Dollar Dating Project’.
The leading SaaS company will assist the ‘Dating App for Dog People’ take its already popular product to the next level. Dig has launched in a large number of cities across the US, and will use the extra help to introduce new community features, expand internationally and develop a web platform.
The HubStars team has years of experience marketing in the online dating industry and will also play a role in Dig’s future digital campaigns.
HubStars’...2020-07-0719 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastMeet the Co-founder of Thursday, the Dating App That Works Once a WeekMeet the Co-founder of Thursday, the Dating App That Works Once a Week
Honeypot was a dating app that went viral in London last summer, following a thrifty guerilla marketing campaign which gained millions of organic social shares.
However, over the past few months the team behind the project have been working on a major rebrand, which includes the unique strategy of making the product unusable for six days of the week.
The app is now called Thursday, a name which was chosen after company data showed it was the most popular day for dating activity. Users can now log...2020-06-2321 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastappMi Founder Explores Online Dating and Influencer MarketingThis week’s episode features an interview with Stuart Murgatroyd, the founder of a brand new white label dating service. appMi works with a wide range of celebrities, reality television stars and social media influencers to help them launch dating apps for their followers.
The company helps them along every step of the way, from software development to product design and marketing strategy.
Influencer marketing has taken off massively in the past few years, but no-one is yet to corner the market in the online dating industry. Branded dating apps offer a space for fans to meet each other, and in...2020-06-1613 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastHow Plenty Of Fish LIVE! Is Helping Lockdown ConnectionsPlenty Of Fish was the first Match Group subsidiary to launch its own live video feature. The update had been in the works for a number of months, but the release date was quickly brought forward to help singles who were trapped in their homes because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Assisted by The Meet Group, POF added the one-to-many livestreaming platform midway through March. It also benefited from the popular ‘NextDate’ game, where users take part in speed-dating while broadcasting to an audience.
Free one-to-one live video was introduced a little while after, to help matches have intimate conversations and priv...2020-06-0915 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastWorld Telemedia MD Discusses Dating Industry HistoryWorld Telemedia is one of the biggest annual conferences dedicated to mobile, billing and marketing.
The event is due to take place in Marbella this October and is an ideal place for aspiring entrepreneurs to learn more about using mobile solutions to provide a quality dating product.
The organisers also run an online and print magazine that keeps everyone up to date with all the latest news from the telemedia sector.
Managing Director Jarvis Todd appeared on The GDI Podcast to explain more about how the events can benefit the dating industry, what online dating changes he has seen in...2020-06-0222 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastPerry Street Software COO on LGBTQ Safety and Jack’d AcquisitionPerry Street Software is the holding company for two of the industry’s leading gay dating offerings. It founded SCRUFF in 2010 and then became the largest LGBTQ-owned and operated technology company when it acquired Jack’d last year.
The company prides itself on putting user safety and experience ahead of revenue. The majority of employees are LGBTQ so they know what is best for the community and make decisions that only impact them in a positive way.
It also runs all advertising through an in-house agency, which eliminates the needs for third party databases and the possibility of private data bein...2020-05-2622 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastOnce CEO Explains Reactive Roll Out of Live Video CallsOnce Dating Group reacted quickly to the coronavirus pandemic and lockdown measures by introducing a live video call feature. The update was created and launched on Once in just a couple of weeks, to allow users to engage in virtual dates without the need for any third party platforms.
Like most of the offerings in the industry, Once has seen user activity increase by approximately one-third, as singles are not deterred by being stuck at home and are still open to meeting new people.
Clémentine Lalande took over as CEO of the umbrella company, which also houses Pickable, in A...2020-05-1918 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastRealMe Founder Discusses Importance of User Safety and TrustThis episode features a discussion with Jeff Tinsley, the founder and CEO of RealMe.
As the new sponsor of The GDI Podcast, RealMe is committed to helping the online dating industry become a safer and more trustworthy place. It was created to answer the need for consumer safety by addressing the growing issues of fraud, scams and abuse.
As we all know, the risks can be much worse than just losing money, and the ongoing issues erode trust in the services that people love.
The RealMe technology and data platform helps make dating services more trusted through identity verification and...2020-05-1214 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastWhite Label Dating CEO Talks Working From Home ProductivelyWhite Label Dating is one of the biggest white label providers in Europe, helping affiliates, businesses and media companies effortlessly create their own online dating platforms.
First launched in 2003, WLD has now helped more than 49,000 different partners generate over $400,000,000 from a variety of niche offerings.
The company was quick to implement a ‘Work From Home’ policy in order to protect its employees from catching and spreading the coronavirus. It was able to do so because of its history of working with people in different offices and in remote locations.
Co-founder and CEO Ross Williams appeared on The GDI Podcast to expl...2020-05-0615 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastNew Startup S’More is Encouraging Daters to Slow DownNew Startup S’More is Encouraging Daters to Slow Down
Adam Cohen Aslatei is an experienced member of the online dating industry, having previously worked with brands such as The Meet Group and Chappy. However, his latest venture has seen him launch his own startup dating app called S’More, which is designed to help people who might have been bogged down by the saturated market.
It values personality over looks, as profile pictures begin blurred, but are slowly revealed, along with other important information, when a meaningful conversation takes place.
S’More is currently live in four of the bigges...2020-04-2823 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastThe Meet Group’s CEO Talks Video Dating Rise in Global LockdownThe Meet Group is one of the biggest publicly-traded online dating companies in the industry, boasting a portfolio that includes MeetMe, Skout, Tagged and LOVOO.
The Pennsylvania-based business added GROWLr, it’s first LGBTQ platform, to the family in 2019. At the beginning of April, it was also announced that the introduction of GROWLr’s live streaming feature was to be accelerated, due to the ongoing COVID-19 lockdowns.
Users can now broadcast and watch one-to-many live streams, while the option to engage in one-to-one private calls is coming soon.
Platforms from all over the industry are bringing out video capabilities to help...2020-04-2132 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastMadeleine Mason Roantree Discusses Relationship PsychologyMadeleine Mason Roantree is one of the UK’s leading psychologists that specialises in dating and relationships. She currently works as the Director of Relationship Psychology Services at the Vida Consultancy, an international matchmaking agency based in London and New York. Her responsibilities include assisting couples, at any stage of their relationship, to help them make sure they are as strong as possible and with the best possible person. She is also the founder and director of the UK Dating Fair, an annual exhibition event for dating companies to present their services to British singles. It also offers several panel di...2020-04-0715 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastProtecting Daters’ Digital Identities With the CMO of YotiYoti is one of the world’s leading digital identity companies, which securely stores people’s personal and legal information inside their smartphones. It works alongside a number of dating and social apps to eradicate fake profiles, by providing users with a simple way of verifying their identity. This should hopefully help services limit the number of catfishers and romance scammers on their platforms. Yoti can also be used in various offline settings, such as in supermarkets as proof of age when buying alcohol. The London-based company is closing in on a £100 million valuation and is currently helping to protect more...2020-03-3108 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastThe Importance of Online Dating Domain Security With SafenamesHaving the perfect domain name can ensure a company gets optimal visibility, but what happens when they get compromised? Safenames is dedicated to working closely with all of its clients to help them make their mark on the digital world by keeping brands safe and secure. Domain security is important for online dating services in particular, so users can easily keep returning to the website and find all of the relevant information. Safenames looks after every step of the domain process, including SSL management, cybersecurity issues, brand protection and hosting solutions. Divisional Sales Manager Richard Morley has been with the...2020-03-2412 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastExploring Naked Dating With BARE Co-founderBARE caused minor controversy when the news of its inception first hit mainstream media. The dating app that promotes full frontal nudity appears to be shallow and objective on the surface, but the deeper message is actually one of equality and empowerment. It’s tagline ‘Your Body, Your Rules’ encourages users to take control of their digital footprint and only expose what they want to. A revolutionary sliding mechanism allows matches to reveal parts of their bodies to each other whenever they are comfortable. There is also no obligation to be nude, as users can choose to protect their identity by sho...2020-03-1711 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastRelationship AI Helps Singles Track Activity Across Multiple AppsAs online dating becomes more and more popular it is beginning to have a detrimental impact on millennial singles. The average dater has upwards of three apps on their phone at any point, and with hundreds of matches on each platform, it is harder than ever for them to keep on top of their love lives. That’s where Relationship AI comes in. The independent platform is designed to take the stress out of modern dating and makes it considerably less time consuming. It stores users’ online dating activity in one place and helps them make smarter decisions by tracking all...2020-03-1010 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastThe Rise of Faith-Based Dating With Christian Connection FounderAlmost 60% of the UK’s population identifies as a follower of Christianity and for many singles, religion is the most important factor when it comes to looking for a romantic partner. Created in 1999, Christian Connection is one of the largest faith-based platforms in the world and has started countless relationships based on shared values. Founder Jackie Elton wanted to start the site so singles could advantage of modern technology but also be safe in the knowledge that they’d be connecting with other people of faith. Christian Connection has developed alongside the overall industry, and has expanded into North America, Aust...2020-03-0218 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastAfriclick Founder Discusses Online Dating For African-Carribean SinglesAfriclick is a startup social app that is currently in beta testing. It is targeted at professional singles of African and Carribean descent, and aims to empower them to connect in a fun, safe and easy way. Founder Dayo Akinrinade created Africlick because she felt the men she was meeting on mainstream dating platforms weren’t seeing past the colour of her skin. She wanted an app that would help her connect with people who had gone through some of the same experiences, to form either romantic or professional relationships. Dayo has since become a role model for BAME entrepreneurs an...2020-02-2520 minThe GDI & Social Discovery PodcastBadoo’s UK Brand Marketing Director Outlines ‘Date Honestly’ CampaignWith more than 450 million users, Badoo runs one of the world's biggest online dating communities. Based in London, the app is part of the newly-formed MagicLab umbrella which is also responsible for Bumble, Chappy and Lumen. Last year Badoo welcomed a brand new Chief Marketing Officer and unveiled an updated marketing message. The ‘Date Honestly’ campaign encourages users to be truthful and sincere when trying to find a romantic partner. In the following six months, Badoo released a variety of content that stuck to this idea, including a podcast hosted by Spice Girl Mel B and a YouTube series which show...2020-02-1112 min
The GDI & Social Discovery PodcastCatching Up With GDI Founder Simon CorbettWe have a special episode to kick off series two of The GDI Podcast. Today, Global Dating Insights founder Simon Corbett opens up about his background in online dating and how the field can continue to move forward. GDI was founded in 2013, just as some of the stigmas were beginning to fade away, and it has since grown into the industry’s leading trade publication. Now with four annual conferences, in London, Los Angeles, New York and Singapore, GDI is growing every single year, whilst also continuing to supply industry executives and professionals with all the latest news. Listen to Si...2020-01-2812 min
The GDI & Social Discovery PodcastThe Inner Circle’s CEO Talks Popular Offline Dating EventsA growing number of online dating platforms are hosting real-life events to add an extra dimension to the service and encourage their members to start a new relationship in a more traditional setting. However, none have managed to do so with such regular consistency as The Inner Circle, the selective dating app that runs multiple events every month across most of its international markets. Each event is different, with activities ranging from speed dating and karaoke to ski trips and summer polo tournaments. David Vermeulen founded the app after not finding a partner who shared his own ambitions on mainstream...2020-01-2114 min
The GDI & Social Discovery PodcastMessaging Platform Sendbird Supports Industry’s Biggest AppsSendbird is a messaging platform that provides fully customisable chat functionalities for mobile apps and websites. It has previously worked with some of the biggest global dating apps, including Hinge, Once and Blued, the largest BGTQ social network in the world. At the beginning of last year, Sendbird raised an impressive $52 million in a Series B funding round that was led by Iconiq Capital, an investment firm associated with Mark Zuckerberg. It has also previously been backed by prestigious startup accelerator Y Combinator. With more than three-quarters of the world’s population regularly using a messaging app, Senbird has the ab...2020-01-1415 min
The GDI & Social Discovery PodcastGoogle Gives Helicopter Perspective on Dating IndustryGoogle is a brand that is synonymous with the internet and being online. The multinational technology company is obviously most well-known for its search engine, cloud computing software, and hardware products. However, it has recently looked to invest more in analysing how the world spends its time online and helping app creators produce revolutionary new services. ThinkWithGoogle is a website that offers editorial content and tools for marketers who want to keep up with the latest consumer and demographic trends. It has done in-depth research on the online dating habits of Gen Z and Millennials, and the resulting reports have...2020-01-0718 min
The GDI & Social Discovery PodcastSpectrum’s CEO Talks Stopping Toxicity on Dating AppsSpectrum Labs is helping online businesses from a variety of industries keep their extensive community of members safe from online harms. It specialises in assisting social media platforms, online marketplaces and gaming companies as well as dating apps. With the online dating industry continuing to grow at an exponential rate, Spectrum is committed to ensuring singles can browse their potential partners without being harrassed, scammed or running into underage profiles. CEO and co-founder Justin Davis knows dating companies need to quickly identify and remove toxic accounts, but without enduring too many false positives and kicking off innocent daters. He joined...2019-12-1717 min
The GDI & Social Discovery PodcastSay Allo Wants To Be First Choice For Intelligent DatingSay Allo is a new relationship discovery app that matches users in a scientific and intelligent fashion. Created in collaboration with Dr Brian Shaw, a pioneer of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, the platform uses a video chat feature to reduce the risk of catfish profiles and increase the compatible connections. Founder Zackary Lewis was a member of the United States Marine Corps and has since worked on a number of tech startups, most notably streaming network Liquid Compass. His journey into the online dating industry was similar to several other entrepreneurs, after struggling to find success on some of the mainstream...2019-12-1012 min
The GDI & Social Discovery PodcastPrelinker’s CEO Explains Global Affiliate Dating OffersPrelinker is one of the leaders for affiliate marketing in the online dating industry. Since 2001, it has been offering advanced white label solutions, data intelligence and smartlink technology to partners in 164 countries all around the world. Prelinker is striving to create the most technologically advanced platform in the online dating sector, with products in every niche market and maximum profits for everyone involved. Some of its leading dating services include Easy Flirt, Affairland and Next Door. Mauricio Botero assumed the role of CEO in July 2019 and has been involved in the industry for almost two decades. He said the team...2019-12-0216 min
The GDI & Social Discovery PodcastTalking To The Head Of The Online Dating Industry’s RegulatorsThe Online Dating Association is the industry’s regulatory body that works to make sure the community of brands has a strong and united voice when dealing with government representatives and the media. It also curates a set of standard guidelines so online dating companies are doing their best to protect all of the users and their data. George Kidd returned to his position as CEO of the ODA in May 2018, after a two year spell as head of the gambling sector’s regulators. Once back in charge, he set about implementing new techniques which he learned from gambling, to dire...2019-11-2517 min
The GDI & Social Discovery PodcastMagicLab VP Discusses Plans For Portfolio ExpansionMagicLab is the recently-formed umbrella that contains four of the leading dating platforms in each of their respective niches. Currently overseeing Bumble, Badoo, Chappy and Lumen, MagicLab is in the market for new startups that could be brought onboard to benefit from the shared technology and engineering resources. It is focussed on developing a portfolio of brands that look to inspire social change, in a similar way that Bumble is with female empowerment. Miles Norris has been working with Badoo and the accompanying platforms for more than seven years now. His current role sees him serve as the VP of...2019-11-1913 min