Online dating site SpeedDate has raised $6 million in a Series B funding round led by Menlo Ventures. SpeedDate offers users a series of 3 minute mini-dates, during which they can converse through video, audio, and a chat box. If both partners decide they were a good match when prompted at the end of the date, they can continue communicating through the site until they make the jump to real life.
When we first wrote about SpeedDate, the site had a small userbase, which made it difficult to conduct a series of dates (there simply weren’t enough potential matches). Since then the site has grown substantially (claiming 100,000 dates daily), so you can hop on and hope to find a reasonable match within a few minutes.
I decided to put the site to the test once again now that it can reliably serve up a stream of potential prospects. Unlike most dating sites, there was no lengthy signup process – the site leaves the real matchmaking to your video chats. And while SpeedDate seemed to totally ignore the interests and personality traits I entered anyway, the experience was still surprisingly fun. I typically only had to wait a few minutes between each session, and girls I spoke to during my “dates” told me that their general experience on the site had been quite positive.
SpeedDate is a direct competitor to Woome, a similar speed-dating site that offers quick video sessions.
So much, $6 million! Wow, 100,000 dates is crazy! I think in at least a few months time, it will be the leading dating site. Cool!
http://www.KidT...ru.blogspot.com
didn’t the competitor you mention, WooMe raise 2x that amount, seems like these guys will be undermanned against their competitor. also interesting to note, the series B was lead by the same firm that did the series A, could not lure in a new lead?
Series A investors have the inside track on re-investing, so getting more money from the same group is actually an endorsement by that group, not the other way around.
Interesting concept. Wish the founders and team all the best. I wonder how will it compete with sites like directdating.com and match.com in the UK.
I guess time will tell, definitely sounds like a way to fast track speed dating
Cool concept!
Jason,
“SpeedDate.com allows singles to go on multiple real-time 3-minute online dates from home using a webcam, microphone and instant messaging.”
“Since then the site… so you can hop on and hope to find a reasonable match within a few minutes.”
Is this the kind of culture these people are intending to bank on? If that’s the case, they’ve sadly mistaken.
Never tried but sound fun. I have heard from people using eHarmony and other popular sites to be very good but the registration process is frustrating… guess they are cashing on the drawbacks of the popular sites.
I have tried Speed Date before. It’s pretty fun so you should try it out!!
Ray Fisman would be proud: http://www.slat...com/id/2177637/
tried speeddate after hearing about the site through email generated from a facebook app installed 6 months ago, ( i did not know it was a speeddate.com fb application at the time) luring me back to fb app with a subject line “private note
” and email body “We thought you should meet blueyes. Send her a flirt. ;”
i’m married with nothing in common with this user, so why/how did speeeddate recommend old “blueeyes” for me? hope this isn’t the only tactic being used to bring users to the site.
those 100,000 dates might be like 1250 people dating for 4 hours a day @ 3 minute sessions
(linkback) Thrive or Fail? SpeedDate.com 3 minute online video/audio/chat dating service [VOTE] – http://www.thri...rfail.com/8a83b
i love it, 5 secs into the video (the demo on the home page) the girl asked, “so what do you do” and the guy replies back “im a student” lol, End of Date
Wow. $6 mil is a lot when you consider this company is giving their webam speed dating service away free
http://mashable...8/24/randodate/
Hmmm – I think these guys are going to be disappointed rather soon.
Online speed dating companies have to build a brand, technology and membership database.
Dating sites simply need to add the technology – which isn’t very advanced.
When WhiteLabelDating.com adds online speed dating we’ll immediately be able to offer it to millions of members across hundreds of dating sites.
If Match.com or DatingDirect.com (in the UK) add online speed dating they’ll knock out woome.com or speeddate – I’d be interested to hear how they could take on dating sites who also offer this technology.
No need to look further. If social networking sites like Facebook, Multiply and Friendster adds webcam dating, they’ll surely top.
Must be a catch I say!!
the concept is cool, but 6 mil $ is hard.
Sex sells!
I think, 6 mil $ is to much money!
I think thats ok
6 mil $ is much, but such sites get a run. more and more.
No need to look further. If social networking sites like Facebook, Multiply and Friendster adds webcam dating, they will surely on top.
The speedDate is the future in Dating. All can Date on the Web with Cam and Audio. Really nice. But 6 Mill. is to much.
SpeedDating ist very cool but 6$ is hard stuff!