Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

When I look at the history there is a clear pattern:

- Match.com solved it by starting in 1995 and working really hard.

- eHarmony solved it by attracting the christian crowd with endorsements by pat roberson and great offline marketing.

- plentyoffish solved it with a great brand name, and using the "free forever" look, feel, and marketing.

- OKcupid solved it by creating tons of questionnaires that were fun and interesting.

- AshleyMadison solved it by targeting the infidelity niche.

- AdultFriendfinder solved it by marketing to suckers on gaming and porn sites.

The pattern is clear. There is no pattern.



Don't forget apps like Grindr. It's hyper-local, which is a whole new niche in this space.


Tastebuds are still getting started, but have an interesting approach of matching based on people's music taste and Last.fm profile.


There is one pattern: a lot of marketing.


I thought the pattern was fake profiles.




Consider applying for YC's Fall 2026 batch! Applications are open till July 27.

Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: