Milestones

Image: Bumble

Bumble has open sourced the AI it uses to detect nude photos, giving developers the technology to help combat the sending of unsolicited images over their platforms.

Bumble’s photo blocking feature called Private Detective aims to curb so-called “cyber flashing” that users have long complained about on dating apps, giving the user the option to delete and report the sender without having to view it. The refined version of the same AI is now available on GitHub for commercial use, distribution, and modification, according to Tech Crunch. The idea is to provide the technology to smaller companies who don’t have the time or resources to develop themselves.

In theory, as Tech Crunch points out, this AI could go beyond dating apps to be incorporated into any app or social platform to help shield users from unwanted content and cut down on lewd photos sent over many types of apps.

Dateability is the latest new dating app to launch and is designed specifically for helping disabled singles connect.

The app was founded by two sisters, Jacqueline and Alexa Child, inspired by Jacqueline’s challenging time on traditional dating apps. According to the Washington Post, she recalled messaging a match she made on a popular dating app to meet for dinner or drinks (nothing strenuous) due to her connective tissue disorder, and he responded: “well, I hope you’re not planning to have children. You shouldn’t pass that on.”

He wasn’t alone in that type of abuse, according to Jacqueline. Dating apps were fraught with people who didn’t understand her disability, or worse, were hostile towards her. She had a hard time processing these conversations, and even talking with her friends and family about her dating experiences but wanted something to change.

Grindr CEO George Arison

Dating app Grindr, which serves the LGBTQ+ community, named board member George Arison as its new CEO. He is scheduled to launch the company’s IPO this fall with a $2.1 billion valuation.

Arison is scheduled to take the reins on October 19th. He has long worked in the tech industry and been a board member of the company since May, according to NBC News. Prior to his appointment as CEO, he founded the car reseller app Shift Technologies, where he also served as CEO, and before that he headed a taxi-hailing app.

In addition to hiring a new CEO, Grindr also appointed a new CFO, the former CFO of Disney Streaming Service Vanna Krantz, who launched and grew the highly successful Disney+ product. Grindr’s outgoing CEO Jeff Bonforte and CFO Gary Hsueh will move into advisory roles going forward, according to NBC News.

Dating app conglomerate 9Count announced that it has raised another $6 million in VC funding on top of its earlier Series A funding of $21.5 million, bringing total funds raised so far to $27.5 million.

According to Tech Crunch, investors have taken notice of the company’s dating app Summer, a rebranding of former dating app Spark, which has gained traction in a saturated market namely for its appeal to younger daters.

Summer hit number one in the App Store in two markets immediately after its launch and now has more than 500,000 downloads, over a million registered users, and more than 300,000 monthly active users (just a few months later). 9Count CEO Alex Hofman told Tech Crunch that it’s “the fastest-growing dating app to hit the market since Bumble arrived in 2014.”

Match Group has acquired The League, a dating app known for its exclusivity because you have to apply to join.

The news about the members-only dating app was disclosed by a Tinder spokesperson to Tech Crunch. The League has become popular among ambitious, career-focused people looking for a more exclusive dating app experience, and as a result the app grew a long waiting list with people vying for a place. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Match Group’s new CEO Bernard Kim sent an email to employees, sharing the news: “We have just closed our acquisition of The League, a premium, niche dating app with a curated member base focused on matching career-oriented users looking for a serious relationship,” Kim wrote.

Dating Group has made several high-profile acquisitions in the past year, thanks to a new round of seed funding and rising user numbers. The moves indicate the dating conglomerate is one of the main players in the fast-growing industry, expanding its competitive advantage by offering more niche dating apps.

In the fall of 2021, the company added Cupid Media to its growing portfolio, and now oversees more than 33 dating platforms, making it one of the world’s largest dating conglomerates along with Match Group, according to DatingNews.com. This acquisition also grew the company’s annual revenue to $300 million, which was already growing in the wake of the pandemic. Cupid Media owns dating apps AsianDating, LatinAmericanCupid, Muslima, FilipinoCupid, and ThaiCupid among others.

Dating Group has also acquired Dil Mil, a fast-growing dating app specifically for South Asian singles. At the time of acquisition, the app was growing at a rate of around 50% in overall downloads, with a 38% increase in active users, according to a press release from Dating Group. Dil Mil has become increasingly popular among South Asians in the U.S. and other countries who want a more targeted dating app experience. Dil Mil offers a diverse array of regional preferences with multiple language and religious options, something that the larger apps like Tinder can’t provide.