Singapore-based social dating app Paktor has been on a roll lately.
At the back of US$32.5 million of fresh funding raised in November last year, they have since gone on to acquire highly popular Taiwanese livestreaming app ’17’ a month later.
Just last month, dating app Down, which is based in the United States, also joined the Paktor family, adding on to the list of companies that the Singapore company has already acquired.
Paktor Acquires 3 Companies And 4 Social Dating Apps
We already know that with Down, both its products – a namesake app as well as Sweet Dating with its 5 million organically-acquired users – and their staff are already coming on board with the Paktor Group.
In a more low-key acquisition, dating app Kickoff has also joined the Paktor Group way back in May 2016. The acquisition of the Brazilian startup will see them bringing with them a strong presence in Latin America into the Paktor Group.
In a statement released this morning, Paktor decided to formally announce that Down, Kickoff, and 2 other companies have in fact come under their wings recently.
Goodnight (Taiwan)
First, we have another acquisition in Taiwan after 17 Media, and the company this time is Goodnight – founded by Howard Yang and Andy Huang in August 2015.
This is an app that, as its name suggests, lets you say “good night” to someone nearby anonymously. And if you like what you hear, you can be friends with the other person, which will then let you chat with them again.
With over 500,000 users, Goodnight is rated as the number one voice dating and social app in Taiwan, and by joining the Paktor Group, they hope to expand their unique social dating experience to an even wider global audience.
Groopify (Spain)
After conquering Asia and the Americas, it seems that Paktor is dead set on doing the same in Europe.
Founded by Pablo Viguera, Alejandro Coca and Miguel García-Santesmases in 2013, Groopify has raised about €2 million from big name investors, growing its user base to more than 250,000 individuals from 8 European and Latin American countries.
More than just a dating app, Groopify has carved a niche for itself by creating a platform for young people who don’t know each other to meet up in groups for a drink. Labelling itself as a pure-play group dating app, it is often described as a modern day sophisticated blind date, but with more people involved.
Sadly, Groopify didn’t last long and the company shut down soon after. The good news though is that the team behind Groopify got hired by the Paktor Group to lead a new phase for the Singapore company.
With these hires and acquisition of companies, Paktor has not only gained a more substantial user base from around the world, but also new ways for people to engage with each other through the app.
Most Of Them Are Heading To Paktor Labs
These acquisitions, though, aren’t just for the sake of growing user and staff figures.
Today also marks the day that Paktor Labs is officially unveiled.
Headed by Down Inc’s CEO and founder Colin Hodge, Paktor Labs will predominantly be made up of team members from Down, Goodnight, and Kickoff.
Not forgetting Groopify, the team joins Paktor Labs with former CEO and c0-founder Pablo Viguera coming on board as the lead of Growth and Product Strategy.
Paktor Labs itself will act as a ecosystem for the Paktor Group, and will act as an accelerator for social apps with high potential.
With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, Paktor wants us know that it is doing its best to revolutionise new ways for singles to meet new people, and from the looks of it, these acquisitions have brought into the Paktor Group some new and exciting ways for an in-app social dating experience, while building an ecosystem that will cultivate more of it.
