Keep In Mind “Bang With Friends?” The app that is controversial which later rebranded as Down, ended up being obtained by Singapore-based dating startup Paktor (they’re, um… setting up).
The regards to the offer are not disclosed, but we’re told it absolutely was a few million. After increasing simply $1 million , it absolutely was a outcome that is“positive for investors like Tim Draper. Paktor has taken in significantly more than $50 million from investors, including a current $32.5 million round in October — it is concentrated on Asia but additionally has solutions in Latin America, the U.S. and European countries.
Colin Hodge, creator and CEO of Down, is joining the Paktor group and certainly will keep both the Down and Sweet apps operating. Hodge may also be Paktor that is overseeing Labs where he’ll be testing brand new a few ideas and acquiring other apps.
“ Bang With Friends began as a late-night part task and became popular like a rocket — we hit 1 million signups within just 3 months,” Hodge claims of these 2013 launch. Up to now, they’ve had 5 million packages and actually have about 200,000 month-to-month active users.
Down can be lucrative. Hodge claims they usually have a $1 million revenue that is annual rate stemming from in-app acquisitions. They even had minimal expenses because he previously been the sole full-time employee recently, down from six staffers in its earlier times.
The initial Bang With Friends gained plenty of very early attention because of its controversial concept. The startup let users Baptist dating review choose which Facebook buddies they certainly were drawn to and would just reveal it in their mind if there was clearly interest that is mutual.
Hodge stated the promotion led to conversations with tv professionals about a possible show. However the attention additionally produced a lot of criticism. He claims he saw a “target on their back. since it handled sex,”
The application “faced lots of additional scrutiny as a result of the sexuality of BWF — with raising cash, platform access, recruiting, and also to acquirers that are potential” said Hodge.
The creator didn’t even want their title connected to the task in early stages. He went because of the pseudonym “C,” but ended up being fundamentally “outed.”
BWF rebranded to Down after Apple kicked it well its platforms and a lawsuit with “Words with Friends” manufacturer Zynga. The software also expanded beyond Facebook friends and today includes all users that are nearby.
We’re told there have been purchase talks with other people, including a large texting business in the U.S. But Hodge claims he’s happy to become listed on Paktor, “the biggest application for dating in southeast Asia.”
The acquisition is notable for the internet dating industry, since the typical customer is normally Match Group. Tinder, OKCupid, PlentyOfFish additionally the name-bearing Match.com are section of a long variety of brands that now come under the umbrella associated with the company that is same.
Calling this an “unlikely exit,” Hodge claims “we’re proud to possess survived it.”
17% of men and women utilizing dating apps/websites are here to cheat on the partner
Males are three times because likely as ladies to utilize dating websites/apps for casual intercourse, while a 3rd of Americans think they will have killed relationship
They state cheaters never prosper, but that’s not stopping some social individuals from attempting anyhow. Brand new information from YouGov Omnibus demonstrates that 7% of people that have ever utilized apps that are dating web sites have tried them to cheat on an important other. One in six (17%) present users of dating apps or web sites state that this might be certainly one of their grounds for with them.
Millennials (11%), moms and dads of young ones under 18 (11%), and individuals who will be hitched (10%) will also be specially more likely to state that cheating on someone is amongst the reasons they’re making use of a app that is dating site.
YouGov’s research reveals one other primary motivators for making use of apps/sites that are dating. Almost half (49%) of grownups who possess ever utilized a app that is dating site make use of the solutions is “to find an exclusive intimate partner, while four in ten (39%) utilize them “to have something fun/interesting to accomplish.”
Approaching 25 % (23%) of users say that having sex that is casual one reason why they’ve used the services, with males (33%) being 3 times because likely as females (11%) to record this explanation.
YouGov’s studies have shown that almost a third of Americans (32%) have actually ever utilized dating websites/apps, a figure that rises to 44% of millennials and 39% of Gen X’ers. But despite their popularity that is relative People in america nevertheless hold negative views about them. The phrase that Us americans are usually to keep company with dating apps is “dangerous” (41%), even though this figure falls to 29% among individuals who have ever utilized them.
The information shows several differences that are notable exactly how users and non-users describe online dating sites solutions. The absolute most commonly plumped for terms among users are “interesting” (42%), “convenient” (39%), and “fun” (36%), while those people who have never ever utilized them have a tendency to select terms such as for example “dangerous” (48%), “shallow” (28%), and “pointless” (23%).
One in three (33%) People in america genuinely believe that dating sites and apps have actually “killed love.” People who either are utilizing or purchased the ongoing solutions are split with this with this with 34% reasoning they will have “killed romance” while 36% disagree.
Nearly two-thirds (64%) of Us citizens, including a big part (57%) of users, state they might would rather satisfy their intimate partner without needing a dating application or site. Approximately four in ten (39%) Americans — and 42% of users — think dating websites/apps are for folks who can’t satisfy intimate lovers offline or in-person.
Regardless of the reality that numerous Us americans think these solutions are dangerous and just if you can’t form relationships offline, nearly half (47%) of individuals report they know has met a romantic partner through a dating app that they or someone.