Spark Networks GmbH is an American-German dating company with a portfolio of brands designed for singles seeking serious relationships. These online dating brands include Zoosk, SilverSingles, EliteSingles, Jdate, ChristianMingle, eDarling, JSwipe, AdventistSingles, LDSSingles, and Attractive World. Formed in 2017 through the merger of Affinitas GmbH and Spark Networks, Inc., the company has a presence in 29 countries worldwide.
On July 1, 2019, Spark Networks closed on their previously announced acquisition of Zoosk, Inc., forming North America's second-largest dating company in revenues. The deal increased Spark's global monthly paying subscribers to over 1 million.[1]
On January 12, 2024, Spark Networks successfully completed a financial reorganization process pursuant to the Act on the Stabilization and Restructuring Framework for Companies (Gesetz über den Stabilisierungs- und Restrukturierungsrahmen für Unternehmen, StaRUG) (“StaRUG”).[2] Pursuant to the StaRUG restructuring plan, which was confirmed by the German Court on January 4, 2024, secured lender MGG Investment Group LP became Spark Networks' sole equity holder in exchange for waiving over $45 million of debt and providing approximately $24 million to support business operations.[3][4][5][6][7]
Websites
A number of properties are included in Spark Networks’ portfolio, including LDS Singles and Adventist Singles.[8] Other websites include:
Zoosk is an online dating service available in 25 languages and in more than 80 countries. The founders of the company are Shayan Zadeh and Alex Mehr, who ran the company until December 2014.[9][10] In mid-2019, Zoosk was acquired for a reported $255 million by Spark Networks.[11]
ChristianMingle is an online community of Christian singles. The site serves singles who are looking to date and marry within the Christian faith. Christian Mingle has over 9 million registered members.[12] Users can access the site in English, German, Spanish, or French.[13] The plot of the film Christian Mingle features the website.
JDate is a niche dating site that caters to Jewish singles. It has more than 750,000 members worldwide.[14] Users can access the site in English, German, Spanish, French, or Hebrew.[15] A survey commissioned by Jdate in 2011 showed 52 percent of married respondents met on Jdate.[16]
EliteSingles dating app, designed for educated professionals seeking committed, long-term relationships, was launched in 2013 and operates in 19 countries. Over 90% of members are 30+.[17]
SilverSingles is a mature singles dating app and website aimed at those interested in over-50 dating and long-term relationships.[18]
eDarling is a European online partner agency launched in 2009 aimed at singles looking for long-term relationships.
JSwipe is a Jewish online dating app launched on Passover 2014 by Smooch Labs, and acquired by Spark Networks in October 2015 for $7 million, ending contentious patent and trademark litigation between the two companies.[19][20]
CROSSPATHS is a dating app designed to help Christians connect with like-minded individuals who share their faith and values.
Attractive World became part of Spark Networks from the acquisition of Affinitas, which previously owned the site.[21]
History
The company was founded by Joe Y. Shapira in 1997 under the name MatchNet plc.[22]
Jdate.com, founded in 1997, was the company's first venture into online dating. The company was also home to Christian Mingle, which was launched in 2001.[23]
The company went public on June 27, 2000, on Germany's Neuer Markt.
In January 2005, the company changed its name to Spark Networks because management felt that the new name more sharply distinguished the company in the marketplace.[24]
On March 10th, 2005 Spark Networks, PLC filed an S-1 registration statement and went public on the Amex Exchange[25]
On January 7th, 2011 Spark Networks, Inc rang the opening bell of the New York Stock Exchange[26]
On November 10, 2014, Jdate launched a dating app designed for Jewish singles.[27]
On October 14, 2015, Spark Networks announced the acquisition of Smooch Labs, owner of the popular millennial Jewish dating app JSwipe.[28] Spark Networks launched CROSSPATHS, a dating app that helps like-minded Christians find matches, on October 8, 2015.[29]
Redesigns of the Jdate and Christian Mingle websites were announced in 2015. In addition to revamped branding, the site makeovers featured technology changes (including expanded mobile capabilities), a re-designed inbox and a new “daily matches” feature. Jdate's redesign went live on November 18, 2015, while Christian Mingle's went live on December 17, 2015.[30][31]
On November 2, 2017, Spark Networks SE (NYSE American: LOV) announced the completion of the previously announced merger of Spark Networks, Inc. and Affinitas GmbH in a stock-for-stock transaction. The combination created a worldwide online dating platform, with brands including EliteSingles, eDarling, Jdate, Christian Mingle, JSwipe, and Attractive World serving a spectrum of users across 29 countries and 15 languages.[32]
On October 3, 2018, Spark was fined $500,000 and ordered to pay $985,000 in restitution in response to complaints that the site was automatically renewing customer accounts without their express consent. The company was sued by the Santa Monica city attorney as well as district attorneys in four counties.[33]
On March 21, 2019, Spark entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Zoosk, Inc.[34] The deal was finalized on July 1, 2019, forming North America's second-largest dating company in revenues and increasing Spark's global monthly paying subscribers increase to over 1 million.[35]
On February 15, 2022, the company's stocks were transferred from the NYSE American to the Nasdaq Capital Market exchange.[36] In September 2023, the stocks moved to the OTCQX Market.[37]
On January 12, 2024, pursuant to the StaRUG restructuring plan, confirmed by a German court on January 4, 2024, the Local Court of Munich, Germany registered the reduction of the company's share capital to zero (and cancellation of the stock) and subsequently issued new share capital, all of which was issued to a subsidiary of MGG Investment Group.[38] As a result, MGG Investment Group is now the sole owner of Spark Networks.[2]
On April 15, 2024, the German Court certified and formally confirmed that the StaRUG restructuring plan and confirmation order entered on January 4, 2024 are final and non-appealable.[38]
Online dating, also known as internet dating, virtual dating, or mobile app dating, is a method used by people with a goal of searching for and interacting with potential romantic or sexual partners, via the internet. An online dating service is a company that promotes and provides specific mechanisms for the practice of online dating, generally in the form of dedicated websites or software applications accessible on personal computers or mobile devices connected to the internet. A wide variety of unmoderated matchmaking services, most of which are profile-based with various communication functionalities, is offered by such companies.
Jdate is an online dating service aimed at Jewish singles. The service is one of a number of demographically focused online match-making websites operated by Spark Networks, Inc.
Salem Media Group, Inc. is an American radio broadcaster, internet content provider, and magazine and book publisher based in Irving, Texas, targeting audiences interested in Christian values and what it describes as "family-themed content and conservative values".
Napster is a music streaming service based in Seattle, Washington, United States. Until 2016, the service was known domestically as Rhapsody before rebranding as Napster, the same name brand that was used by Roxio's Napster.
OkCupid is a U.S.-based, internationally operating online dating, friendship, and formerly also a social networking website and application. It features multiple-choice questions to match members. Registration is free. OkCupid is owned by Match Group, which also owns Tinder, Hinge, Plenty of Fish, and many other popular dating apps and sites.
Windstream Holdings, Inc., also doing business as Windstream Communications is a provider of voice and data network communications, and managed services, to businesses in the United States. The company also offers residential broadband, phone and digital streaming TV services to consumers within its coverage area. It is the ninth largest residential telephone provider in the country with service covering more than 8.1 million people in 21 states.
Badoo is a dating-focused social network founded by Russian entrepreneur Andrey Andreev in 2006. It is headquartered in Limassol, Cyprus and London, United Kingdom, with offices in Malta, Russia and the United States. It operates in 190 countries and is available in 47 languages, making it the world's most widely used dating network. The app is available on iOS, Android, and the web. Badoo operates on a freemium model, whereby the core services can be used without payment.
This is a partial, non-exhaustive list of notable online dating websites and mobile apps.
The Meet Group, Inc. owns several dating app networking services including MeetMe, hi5, LOVOO, Growlr, Skout, and Tagged. The company has offices in New Hope, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Dresden, and Berlin.
Plenty of Fish (POF) is a Canadian online dating service, popular primarily in Canada, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Brazil, and the United States. It is available in nine languages. The company, which is based in Vancouver, British Columbia generates revenue through advertising and premium memberships. While it is free to use, Plenty of Fish offers premium services as part of their upgraded membership, such as allowing users to see who has "liked" a member through the service's MeetMe feature, and whether a message has been read and/or deleted.
The Matzo Ball is an annual Christmas Eve nightlife event and party held in a number of major cities in the United States targeted primarily at young Jewish singles and organized by Mazel Events, LLC.
Zoosk is an online dating service available in 25 languages and in more than 80 countries. The founders of the company are Shayan Zadeh and Alex Mehr, who ran the company until December 2014. After struggles that year, Kelly Steckelberg became the company's new CEO. In July 2019, Zoosk became part of Spark Networks SE.
Joe (Yoav) Shapira is a digital media entrepreneur who resides in Tel Aviv, Israel, and Los Angeles, California.
Purch Group, Inc. was a New York City-based digital media company. Originally established in 2003 as TechMedia Network, Inc., it was positioned as a "portfolio of brands and products focused on purchasing decisions"—consisting primarily of websites focusing on reviews of consumer electronics, positioned to marketers as outlets to "directly engage with buyers in the right place, at the right time".
The FanDuel Sports Network app is the video streaming service of FanDuel Sports Network. The service is available for customers of select cable and satellite TV providers.
This timeline of online dating also includes broader events related to technology-assisted dating. Where there are similar services, only major ones or the first of its kind are listed.
Match Group, Inc. is an American internet and technology company headquartered in Dallas, Texas. It owns and operates the largest global portfolio of popular online dating services including Tinder, Match.com, Meetic, OkCupid, Hinge, Plenty of Fish, OurTime, and other dating global brands. The company was owned by IAC until July 2020 when Match Group was spun off as a separate, public company. As of 2019, the company had 9.3 million subscribers, of which 4.6 million were in North America. Japan is the company's second largest market, after the United States.
Christian Mingle is an online dating service that caters to Christian singles. The service is one of a number of demographically focused online match-making websites operated by Spark Networks.
An online dating application, commonly known as a dating app, is an online dating service presented through a mobile phone application. These apps often take advantage of a smartphone's GPS location capabilities, always on-hand presence, and access to mobile wallets. These apps aim to speed up the online dating process of sifting through potential dating partners, chatting, flirting, and potentially meeting or becoming romantically involved.
JSwipe is an online dating application targeted at Jewish singles. It was launched in April 2014, over the Passover holiday, by founder David Yarus and three co-founders under the business entity name Smooch Labs. Yarus, who was also working for Birthright Israel and Hillel at the time of JSwipe's creation, initially viewed the app as a lark before seeing the development of the Jewish dating app as combining his professional interests, passion, and expertise.
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