Blush Launches with $7M in Funding
New dating app Blush has launched, available now in Los Angeles and with early-access in select cities across the U.S. Founded by Matthew Alfin, the platform has raised $7 million in funding.
Looking to redefine the online dating experience, Blush is focusing on community engagement and offline connections. Its features include:
- Community Events: Curating IRL experiences, providing an easy transition between online and offline interactions.
- Turn Roses Into Rewards: Matches can share digital roses with potential matches, which can be redeemed for gift cards for restaurants, grocery stores, cafes, spas, florists, or even a donation to a charity.
- Mutual Locations: Blush profiles include information about favorite cafes, restaurants, gyms, etc, allowing users to bond over mutual interests in the local community.
- Zodiac Compatibility: The platform adopts dynamic zodiac compatibility charts to offer members an insight into potential matches.
More than 60% of surveyed male users share that they have gone on at least one date as a result of Blush. Additionally, members are more than four times as likely to match when sending a rose.
The platform launched with $7 million in funding, raised from prominent investors including Naval Ravikant (founder of Angellist), Mark Bailey (founder of DFJ Growth), Simon Rothman (former partner at Greylock), Larry Rudolph (music industry manager), and more.
The dating app is currently available in Los Angeles, but is exploring early-access in Miami, New York, Chicago, and Austin. Expansion to these new areas is expected soon.
“Dating app fatigue is real, as most users feel their time is wasted and in-person connections are never made following a match. That’s why I’m excited to launch Blush and provide daters with both unprecedented experiential events and rewards,” said Matthew Alfin, Founder of Blush.
“Blush is the modern solution to an age-old problem. It fosters a bond over common interests and frequent spots, offering a more intimate understanding of potential matches – we are making online dating feel more personal and grounded in real life experiences”, Alfin added.
