Latinx Dating App Chispa Announces New Game Feature and 4 Million Users

Chispa, one of the most popular dating apps for Latinx daters, said its subscriber base has grown to over four million, a twenty-eight percent increase from this time last year, according to the company’s press release. This milestone was shared just before they announced their second piece of big news: a partnership with Tragos, a popular card game among Latinos. 

Tragos offers questions centered around Latinx culture, with some references in Spanish, like “Do you fear la chancla?” or "Ever get hit with '¿y el novio/ la novia?' at family gatherings?" The point is to spark conversation – opening the door to talk about upbringing or current social topics, and hopefully build connection.

Chispa will offer an in-app version of the game so its users can play with their matches, and hopefully forge connections.

Dating apps have soared in popularity in the wake of a global pandemic, and dating app companies are looking for ways to keep people engaged on the apps. Chispa surveyed its members earlier this year and found that 56 percent of Latino users have a hard time starting a conversation over a dating app, and 74 percent felt that a game would help as an ice breaker. 

The dating app took note of this by forging the partnership with Tragos, the latest in a series of efforts to attract young Latinx singles. Last year, the company hired celebrity astrologer Valerie Mesa to be the app company’s official astrologer. She creates and shares content with Chispa users, including advice on how to incorporate strengths from their astrological signs in profile descriptions, according to Mesa in an interview with Al Dia.

“If anything, I want to be someone who really boosts someone else’s confidence and reminds them that there’s someone out there for everyone,” Mesa said.

Chispa also teamed with Voto Latino last year in advance of the Presidential election, a grassroots political organization to help ignite members of the Latinx community to register to vote and to educate them on relevant topics and policies candidates are backing.  

The company hopes the Tragos partnership will continue the app’s subscription growth, and help its members to better connect with each other and promote more meaningful conversations.

"Breaking the 4 million downloads mark in just over three years since Chispa's launch is no small feat and we're proud to be the first dating app for Latinx singles to reach that milestone as we continue to look for innovative and culturally relevant ways to connect our members," said Julia Estacolchic, Director of Brand Marketing for Chispa.