Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Tinder Takes On Dating Via iPhone

Is your iPhone the answer to your romantic life? Tinder, a brand new iPhone dating app created by Sean Rad and Justin Mateen of Hatch Labs, has just launched, in a quest to help users better connect with others via their iPhone. The new app, the first to spin out of Hatch Labs, helps users find who likes you nearby, and connects you with them if you're interested, via an anonymous process.

Rad and Mateen are both high tech veterans, with Rad having previously founded Twitter advertising startup Ad.ly; Mateen was most recently founder of CoverCanvas. Rad's Ad.ly went on to raise venture funds from Greycroft Partners, GRP Partners, and Matt Coffin.

The new Tinder iPhone app uses a user's existing, Facebook profile, and analyzes a user's social graph to look to match potential candidates for dating. The firm says it uses a users' geographic location, number of mutual friends, and common interests to find those most likely to be compatible with users; the use of those Facebook links also helps the firm avoid fake profiles and phony users and any unpleasant Manti Te'o fake girlfriend issues.

Hatch Labs is focused on developing new applications and mobile startups, and is backed by IAC.

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