Editor’s note: This article was first published in February 2011; the news about Zoosk, including its 2010 revenue of over $90 million, 60 countries, 25 languages and $40 million raised, is from that time. The speculation that Match.com might buy Zoosk did not come true.
Online dating site Zoosk published its revenue figures today, showing growth of 250% compared with 2009. Zoosk closed 2010 with revenue of more than $90 million.
The creators of this dating network say the growth is down to their investment in advertising, which made them highly visible on Facebook. They have also expanded to a total of 60 countries, and their platform supports more than 25 languages, which has helped them increase the number of paid subscriptions.
They also made a heavy investment in developing apps for iPhone and Android, as well as a desktop application that was downloaded more than 4 million times in 2010.
They said that since launching in late 2007 they have raised $40 million in funding from investors, and they can now compete with big players like Match.com. Match.com is probably already considering buying Zoosk, as it did with its acquisition of OkCupid for $50 million, although this time it will have to dig a little deeper into its pockets, since Zoosk is on track to be even more profitable in 2011.
It’s yet another example of how a business idea can enter a highly competitive market and carve out a niche, to the point of already aiming to unseat the giants of the online dating business.
Further reading
Featured image: VOA, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
