Dating startups still attract lots of VC love

February 14, 2024

Hi, Agen. Most startups haven’t been feeling a lot of love from investors for the past few years. But VCs still seem to be attracted to romance-related startups, particularly those looking to make the dating experience more fun and engaging. Dozens of startups in the dating space have raised millions in recent years. Plus, venture investors kept the brakes on in the first month of 2024, our data shows.

💕 Investors still swiping right on dating startups

VCs still seem to have warm and fuzzy feelings for dating startups, Crunchbase data shows, with the latest cohort of funded romance apps particularly geared toward a generation of singles weary of the shallowness and tedium of endless swiping.

Related Crunchbase Pro list: Dating- And Romance-Centric Startups

🛑 VCs kept the brakes on in January

Venture funding was subdued in the first month of 2024, clocking in below even the already depressed monthly averages of 2023, Crunchbase data shows. What will it take to kickstart startup investment this year?

💸 3 ways to optimize your incentive compensation program

Variable compensation is the largest sales expense for most businesses. It’s also incredibly complex and, without the right strategy, can end up detracting from profits instead of driving more revenue. With that in mind, guest author Mark Schopmeyer offers three steps toward striking the right balance with your incentive compensation program.

🦄 AI leads the way on new unicorn creation

Of the 95 companies that joined The Crunchbase Unicorn Board in 2023, AI was the leading sector. We dive into that and other unicorn company trends at the start of 2024.

🚰 Funding flows freely to water-saving startups

Venture funding may be running dry, but money for water conservation-related startups has not, Crunchbase data shows. In fact, startups working on water industry-related technologies raised more money last year than they did in 2021.

Related Crunchbase Pro list: Water-Related Funding

🤝 Crunchbase announces new partnership with monday.com

Now, monday.com sales CRM users can enrich their CRM records with Crunchbase's best-in-class proprietary company data to quickly identify qualified opportunities and inform outreach. Find out more here.

Final week: CNBC is now accepting nominations for the 2024 Disruptor 50 list

The Disruptor 50 list is an annual look at the most innovative venture-backed companies. Private startups are scored on criteria including scalability, revenue and user growth, the use of breakthrough technology, and workforce diversity. The deadline to apply is Friday at 11:59pm ET.

SUBMIT NOMINATION

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