Dating Site Zoosk Hooks Up With $30M

dating

Social dating community Zoosk has raised $30 million in a fourth round of funding led by Bessemer Venture Partners. Existing investors Canaan Partners and ATA Ventures also participated.

The new funds are expected to support the company's international expansion, marketing activities in key geographies, and investments in new features and applications.

Since its launch in December 2007, Zoosk has attracted roughly 40 million singles from some 40 countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, France, Italy, Mexico, and South Africa.

"Singles around the world have embraced our fun, safe, and social network-driven approach," said Shayan Zadeh, co-founder and co-CEO of Zoosk.

Singles can join Zoosk via their social networking sites by adding the Zoosk application on Facebook, MySpace, Bebo, Hi5, and Friendster, via Zoosk mobile, or by signing up at Zoosk.com.

Such "social" technology is increasingly attracting deep-pocketed investors. Widget network RockYou, whose applications thrive on social networking and video sites like Facebook, MySpace and YouTube, recently secured an additional $50 million, bringing its funding total to nearly $120 million.

San Francisco-based Zoosk recently hit a $30 million run rate based on revenue booked for the sale of Premium Memberships, millions of transactions in Zoosk's virtual economy, and advertising, according to Zadeh.

The Series D funding round brings Zoosk's total financing to $40.5 million. Just this past June, Zoosk raised $6 million in a third round of funding.

Jupiter Research recently forecast that the online personals space would reach $1.2 billion in worldwide revenues this year. "Around the world, online dating is an incredibly popular -- and successful -- way to find and meet someone special," said David Cowan, partner at Bessemer Venture Partners.

1 comment about "Dating Site Zoosk Hooks Up With $30M".
Check to receive email when comments are posted.
  1. Pooky Amsterdam from PookyMedia, December 4, 2009 at 9:42 p.m.

    Great news on the spend for dating sites -
    I produce a great show livestreamed and then archived using the 3D immersive platform known as Secodn Life.
    http://www.thedatingcasino.com/
    'cause Love is a gamble -
    It is remarkable how fun this show is and truly a great insight into men and women. Online dating is a true phenomenom and here to stay.

Next story loading loading..