Gay Dating App Hornet Raises $8 Million In Series A Funding

Hornet, a dating app that touts itself as “the world’s second largest gay social network,” has announced that it has raised $8 million in its first round of institutional financing. The Series A round adds to a $500,000 angel round raised in 2012.

Founded in San Francisco in 2011, Hornet set out to strengthen the gay community by providing quality social interactions and being the most inclusive, diverse service in the LGBT dating market. CEO Christof Wittig has previously said the company aims to “jump in where Grindr dropped the ball” by focusing on lasting connections rather than quick flings.

Hornet offers a web service and a mobile app, both completely free. The user interface was carefully designed to encourage increased interactivity. Unlike its competitors, Hornet allows users to post hundreds of photos and includes the option to make specific images private. Users also have unlimited messages and blocks. Other highlights of Hornet include buzz features to welcome new members to the community, and a strong focus on safety and privacy.

The thoughtful approach to product development has paid off. Hornet has grown to 3 million monthly active users and 15 million total users, and is number one in the key markets of France, Russia, Brazil, Turkey, and Taiwan. It is the second largest gay social network, following Grindr.

Hornet says the $8 million raised in its Series A, led by Ventech China, will be used to “support rapid business growth and user adoption” around the world.

“We are excited to work with our new investors to further our mission and engage our community,” explained Christof Wittig, Hornet CEO, in a press release. “Hornet brings interaction and an experience that builds relationships and helps form meaningful connections to local communities. We will invest heavily into making our vision for a fully connected gay community a reality.”

"Gay apps have evolved over the past few years to more fully engage users, who demand a richer, mobile experience," says Hornet President Sean Howell. "Hornet users expect to interact with other members and to be informed about the issues important to gay culture. Hornet is designed to reach and fulfill the needs of our diverse user base."

Eric Huet, Managing Partner at Ventech who joins Hornet's Board of Directors, said, "We're thrilled to have the opportunity to invest in Hornet. The platform combined with the user functionality is unparalleled. In such a short time, Hornet has claimed leader position in many markets across the globe."

This isn't the only big news for Hornet in 2016. The company acquired gay city guide Vespa in July in hopes of extending its innovation lead by integrating gay events and destinations into its products. Hornet also recently introduced its version 3.0 which features an activity feed and the discover platform, setting the service up for significant forward momentum into 2017.