Dating and friendship services add structure to meeting new people

Dating and friendship services are offering more focused ways to meet people through individual introductions, small-group gatherings and shared activities. These approaches give users a defined starting point, whether that is considering one potential match, attending a meetup or finding a workout partner.

Singapore’s GovTech agency launched FirstDate, a dating pilot for eligible single public officers aged 21–35. The service uses questionnaire responses and the Gale–Shapley matching algorithm to offer one potential match per cycle. The pilot explores whether shared values and preferences, combined with fewer introductions at a time, can encourage participants to give each match more consideration.

After5.pm launched an iOS beta starting in San Francisco, with plans to expand across the US and Canada. The app organises small-group meetups at local venues without swiping or advance messaging. Members join a gathering and meet people in person, making the meetup the starting point of the experience.

Adidas partnered with Bumble in 2024 to introduce a “Gym buddy” interest badge on Bumble, its friendship mode and the Bumble For Friends app. Members could add the badge to their existing profiles to identify others looking for a workout partner. The feature gives people a shared activity to discuss and arrange together.