setting the scene
- you open your favorite dating app and start swiping
- after a few matches, you try the go-to pick up lines:
- “i must be a snowflake, because i’ve fallen for you” ❄️
- “any chance you have an extra heart? mine’s been stolen!” 😏
- after several messages the conversation goes dry; time to open the next app 💔
- this week’s company gets rid of aimless scrolling and messaging, turning that swipe right into a memorable night 🪩
in a sentence
Thursday is a dating app that opens once a week for singles to match with each other and sign up for exclusive events
- once a week: “6 out of 7 days of the week, spend time on you, not a dating app”
- events: attend sponsored events at some of the coolest venues across London and NYC
bulleted version: just like how the Bachelor makes us wait a week for the next episode, Thursday builds anticipation for users to find their bachelor(ette)🌹
the basics
- industry: mobile app, dating
- headquarters: London, United Kingdom
- year founded: 2018
- company size: < 30 employees 🧳
- investors: Best Nights VC, Connect Ventures, Ascension Seed Fund, Eldar Tuvey, Henry de Zoute, Ian Hogarth, Matt Robinson, Thomas Blomfield
- amount raised: $5.03m
- investment stage: seed 🌱
due diligence
what “turns us on”
- 🧐 in need of a fresh take: for the 300m+ people using dating apps, over 50% are unsatisfied with their experiences
- 💥 loud marketing: Thursday is making their voice heard with their “viral PR stunts,” including:
- 🎊 events: diversifies revenue streams and creates a user experience outside the app
potential risks
-
saturated market: thousands of dating apps exist today
- even with their new model, the matching functionality isn’t different from what we’ve seen
- 🔀 mixed reviews: while users are excited about the app, some feedback on the App Store shows there’s room for improvement
- too edgy?: Thursday’s marketing turns heads, but walking the line between effective and questionable content may pose challenges
founder profiles
- Matthew McNeill Love (prev. Welsh Guards Officer)
- George Rawlings (prev. @ Brix Points, Agent VOX)
comps
why Thursday: we are head over heels about Thursday, as the app ties the knot between online and in-person dating
- the once a week model encourages users to make the most of their matches ✅
- exclusive events let singles meet in real life 👥