Love, Money, and Algorithms: Why Dating Apps Could Be a Portfolio Match
The Awkward Business of Modern Love
Let’s be honest, the search for love has always been a bit of a messy, expensive business. In my day, it involved overpriced drinks in sticky-floored pubs and the hope that you might meet someone who didn’t think your taste in music was appalling. Today, the venue has changed, but the fundamental human desire remains. It’s just that the sticky floors have been replaced by the slick interface of a smartphone app, and frankly, it’s become a far more lucrative enterprise.
What was once a slightly embarrassing corner of the internet is now a multi-billion dollar industry. And for an investor, I find that far more interesting than the prospect of another awkward first date. The pandemic, it turns out, was the ultimate matchmaker between lonely hearts and digital platforms. When we were all locked away, swiping right became less of a casual pastime and more of a public utility. The stigma evaporated overnight, and what was left is a permanent shift in how society connects. To me, that smells like an opportunity.