A daily newsletter summarizing recent activity & interesting start-ups globally
RECENT NOTABLE ACTIVITY – MATCHMAKING
- MeetMindful, a Denver-based online dating platform based on interests has raised $1.8M in a Seed round of funding led by Bridge Builders Collaborative, Nelstone Ventures, Techstars, and others. Link
- Aisle, a Bangalore-based online matchmaking platform for like-minded individuals has raised an undisclosed amount in an Angel round led by CIO Angel Network, Konglo Ventures, White Unicorn Ventures, LetsVenture, and others. Link
- Blued, a Beijing-based mobile gay dating app has raised an undisclosed amount in a Series D round of funding. Link
- If(we), an SF-based parent company of dating and social networking platforms Tagged and Hi5, was acquired by social networking platform MeetMe for an amount of $60M. Link
- Dus, an LA-based mobile dating app for South Asians was acquired by mobile dating platform Woo for an undisclosed amount. Link
- Blinq, a Zurich-based Tinder-like mutual likes-based dating app was acquired by ad firm APG for an undisclosed amount. Link
SOME INTERESTING STARTUPS FOUND
Mel&Jer (2016, Paris), a personality-based matchmaking Facebook messenger bot. Gathers the basic information through FB messenger chat and uses AI to match the users.
LEADER BOARD – MATCHMAKING
Matrimony- Listing
Matrimony (1997, Chennai, $20M) – Online matrimonial matchmaking platform. Backed by Yahoo, Canaan Partners, Bessemer Venture Partners, and Mayfield.
Shaadi (1997, Mumbai, $8M) – Online matrimonial matchmaking platform for South Asians. Backed by Westbridge Capital and InnoVen Capital. Part of People Group.
Matrimony- Algo-based
Baihe (2004, Beijing, $256M) – Online algorithmic matrimonial matchmaking portal. Backed by NEA, Mayfield, Tenaya Capital, GSR Ventures, Zero2IPO Capital, Northern Light Venture Capital and Investor Growth Capital.
Zhenai (2005, Shenzhen, $13M) – An online matrimonial platform with algorithmic matching. Backed by Match, SEAVI Advent, Bridger Capital, and MC Capital Asia Group.
Dating – Open Listings
Momo (2011, Beijing, $290M, IPO) – A Chinese dating and chat platform. Backed by Sequoia Capital, Tiger Global Management, DST Global, Alibaba Group, YF Capital, Matrix Partners China, and others. Went public in 2014.
Hi5 (2003, SF, $34M, Acq) – Online dating platform. Backed by Mohr Davidow Ventures, Crosslink Capital and Vencore Capital. Acquired by Tagged.
Badoo (2006, London, $30M) – Online dating and social networking platform. Backed by FINAM Global.
Dating – Mutual Likes
Tinder (2010, West Hollywood) – Mobile dating app based on mutual likes. Backed by Benchmark and a part of Match Group owned by IAC.
Paktor (2013, Singapore, $57.5M) – A Tinder-like mobile dating application based on mutual likes. Backed by PT Media Nusantara Citra Tbk, YJ Capital, Majuven, SXE Ventures, Golden Equator Capital, Vertex Ventures, Convergence Ventures, K2 Global and Sebrina Holdings.
Tantan (2014, Beijing, $50M) – Mobile dating application based on mutual likes. Backed by KPCB, DST Global, DCM Ventures, LB Investment, SS&C Technologies, Bertelsmann Asia Investment Fund, GX Capital, and Yuan Jing Capital.
Dating – Profile Matching
eHarmony (2000, Santa Monica, $113M) – Online dating platform with questionnaire-driven personality-based matchmaking. Backed by Sequoia Capital, Technology Crossover Ventures, Fayez Sarofim, Tuputele Ventures, and others.
Zoosk (2007, SF, $43.5M) – Online dating platform that employs behavioural matchmaking. Backed by Canaan Partners, Bessemer Venture Partners, Plug and Play Tech Center, Crosslink Capital, Keating Capital, Amidzad Partners, among others.
Dating – Specialized
Grindr (2008, LA, $93M) – Mobile dating app for gay and bisexual people. Backed by Kunlun.
Blued (2012, Beijing, $32M) – Mobile dating app for gay individuals. Backed by DCM Ventures, China Mobile Games and Entertainment, CrystalStream, New World Development, Ventech, and Vision Knight Capital.
Leaderboard includes all the top funded, IPO and successfully running bootstrapped companies along with their location, founding year and funding amount.
For latest update visit Matchmaking feed.